Blood in urine is medically called hematuria. This is a symptom that should not be ignored. Sometimes, urine may appear pink, red, or cola-brown in color, while in some cases, the blood may be so small that it is not visible to the naked eye and can only be detected by test. This condition can occur due to benign reasons, but it can also be an early sign of some serious disease. If blood is seen in urine or it is detected by test, it is important to immediately consult a doctor. Let us now tell you which disease blood in urine can be a sign of.
Hematuria means presence of red blood cells in urine. It is of two types: Gross hematuria, in which blood is clearly visible to the naked eye and the urine turns pink or red. Microscopic hematuria is one in which blood is not visible but is detected under a microscope or in a urine test.
In these conditions, urine may appear pink, red, or cola-like. Even a little blood is enough to change the color. Sometimes, blood clots may dislodge, causing pain.
Although hematuria often causes no other symptoms, some people may have symptoms such as frequent urination, burning or pain when urinating, sudden and frequent urination, fever, chills, pain in the back or lower abdomen, and blood clots in the urine, which can be very painful.
There can be many causes of blood in the urine, including urinary tract infection, kidney infection, kidney or bladder stones, enlarged prostate, kidney disease, or injury or strenuous exercise.
In some cases, blood in urine can also be a sign of dangerous diseases like bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer and sickle cell disease.
People over the age of 50, who already have kidney stones, who have a family history of the disease, who take blood-thinning medications or certain antibiotics, or who smoke are at the highest risk of hematuria.
To detect this disease, doctors first do a urine test. Apart from this, they can also do tests like blood test, ultrasound, CT scan, cystoscopy and kidney biopsy.
