The following article will discuss some information regarding blood in urine treatment. Read on to learn more about the causes of blood in urine and the treatment for this condition.
The presence of blood in urine is called hematuria in medicine. This condition may either be a sign of an underlying health disorder or urinary tract infections. There are two types of blood in urine that includes microscopic hematuria and gross hematuria. Microscopic hematuria occur when blood present in urine is detected under a microscope. This is because the presence of blood is so small in the urine that it needs a microscope to be detected. Gross hematuria occurs when a naked eye is able to spot the presence of blood in urine. The color of the urine appears red or pink and one may spot blood clots as well.
Causes
Blood in urine may indicate a serious health disorder that needs medical attention. In some cases, the condition is not so serious, yet warrants medical investigation. There are different causes of blood in urine. Blood leaks into the urine when kidneys or other organs of the urinary tract allow it to seep into urine.
The leakage of blood in urine may occur in the following instances –
- Urinary tract infection that leads to pain while urinating, strong-smelling urine and persistent urge to urinate
- Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) that causes fever and flank pain
- Kidney or bladder stones that lead to both gross and microscopic bleeding
- Enlarged prostate in men that leads to difficulty in urinating, persistent need to urinate and gross or microscopic bleeding
- Glomerulonephritis which leads to inflammation of kidneys causing blood in urine
- Kidney, bladder or prostate cancer that leads to presence of blood cells in urine
- Sickle cell anemia that is a common cause of microscopic as well as gross hematuria
- Kidney injury and strenuous exercises that sometimes lead to gross hematuria
- Medications like penicillin, aspirin, heparin, cyclophosphamide, etc. that lead to gross hematuria
- Abnormal increase of red blood cells in the body that lead to blood in urine during pregnancy
Symptoms
There are a few on and off symptoms of blood in urine that helps one know that some things aren’t just right with their body. Some people suffer from blood in urine but without any pain. This condition is usually detected with a urine test conducted by a doctor. Visible symptoms of blood in urine include red, pink or brown colored urine. Presence of blood in urine of menstruating women is not considered hematuria. It is said to be an external contaminant in the urine.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for blood in urine. It depends on the underlying cause that leads to presence of blood cells in urine. In case of a urinary tract infection, the doctor will suggest antibiotics that helps to reduce the infection. The infection will subside within a few days and recurrent infection requires long-term treatments. People suffering from kidney stones are asked to drink plenty of water. The doctor may even suggest shock wave therapy to break the stones into smaller pieces.
Kidney disease treatment involves relieving the inflammation and preventing further damage to the kidneys. Cancer treatment involves surgical removal of the cancer tissues, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Men suffering from an enlarged prostate are given medications and other therapy methods that help restore normal urinary function.
As you can see, blood in urine treatment is totally unspecific and depends on the underlying cause. If one observes blood in urine, they should get themselves examined by a doctor. If left untreated, it may lead to serious kidney and urinary tract complications. Hope the above information on causes, symptoms and treatment related to blood in urine proves to be a useful read for you.
