If you witness blood in the water after urinating or the toilet water turns red or pink, then it is important to consult a reputable urologist. It is to be noted that blood in your urine or hematuria can be caused by infections, vigorous exercise or kidney problems.
Blood in your urine, also called hematuria, can be caused by infections, vigorous exercise and/or kidney diseases. Whether the blood amount is very small that can’t even be seen with naked eyes and detected in lab tests only or the toilet water turns red or pink after peeing, it is vital to see a doctor. If you are experiencing this, then you can reach out to the best urologist in Ahmedabad at Apollo Hospital Ahmedabad for appropriate advice.
Symptoms of Hematuria
A small amount of blood can turn urine pink, red or cola-coloured. Notably, red blood cells are responsible for this colour change in most cases. Besides, certain medicines (like phenazopyridine) or foods (for example: beets and rhubarb) can also cause urine to turn red. Often the bleeding is not painful, but if blood clots get passed in the urine, then that can hurt.
Causes of Blood in Urine
The following are the possible reasons for causing blood in the urine:
- Kidney problems:
- An infection/injury/inflammation in kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract, such as the bladder, prostate, or urethra
- Kidney or bladder stones
- Advanced kidney, bladder or prostate cancer
- Kidney disease after strep throat
- Kidney failure
- Blood clots in kidneys
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Recent urinary tract procedures such as catheterisation, circumcision, surgery, or kidney biopsy
- Bleeding disorders (such as haemophilia)
- Blood thinning medicines (such as aspirin or warfarin)
- Inherited illnesses, such as sickle cell anaemia and Alport syndrome (a condition that damages tiny blood vessels in kidneys)
- Medicines like anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide and the antibiotic penicillin
- Thrombocytopenia (low numbers of platelets)
- Hard exercise
- Blood in the urine may actually be coming from other sources like the vagina (in women), a bowel movement or ejaculation (often due to a prostate problem in men).
Risk Factors of Hematuria
Anyone, including children and teens, can have red blood cells in the urine. Here are some factors that can raise the risk of blood in the urine:
- Owing to the enlarged prostate gland, middle-aged and older men may be more likely to have hematuria. Besides, the risk of some cancers that can cause hematuria may also increase for people aged 50 and above.
- Urinary tract infections are one of the major factors for blood in children’s urine.
- If one or more of your family members have had a kidney disease, then you may be at a higher risk of hematuria.
- Some pain relievers and antibiotics can raise the risk of blood in urine.
- Contact sports can raise the risk of blood in urine.
Diagnosis of Hematuria
In order to understand your symptoms better, your doctor may order the following tests:
- Physical examination, including a pelvic exam or a digital rectal exam
- Urinalysis
- Urine culture to check for an infection
- Urine cytology to check for any abnormal-appearing cells
- Cystoscopy to look at the inside of your bladder and urethra
- Ultrasound to examine your kidneys, ureters and the bladder
- Computed tomography (CT) scan to get cross-sectional images of your abdomen and pelvis
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
Treatment of Blood in Urine
The actual cause of hematuria plays a vital role in deciding the treatment course.
- Hematuria caused by bacterial infections: Antibiotics
- Enlarged prostate: Alpha-blockers, the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors or surgery if medicines don’t work
- Cancer: Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy or combinations of these options
- Sickle cell anaemia: Disease-modifying agents like hydroxyurea, pain medications, antibiotics and drugs that prevent blood cells from dying or forming into sickles
- Kidney diseases: Diuretics, drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, dialysis to filter out waste or a kidney transplant
In a nutshell, blood in urine or hematuria should never be ignored. While blood in urine does not always indicate a disease, it can be a vital warning sign of a possible health problem. If you are experiencing something similar, then connect with the best urologist in Ahmedabad at Apollo Hospital Ahmedabad for the right diagnosis and treatment.
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15234-hematuria
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/blood-in-urine/symptoms-causes/syc-20353432
https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/cond
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