HEMATURIA:                           

             Blood in the urine is called Hematuria.  When the blood is visible due to its color in the urine then it is called 'Frank' or 'Gross' Hematuria.  When it is not visible to naked eye and is only seen when the urine is tested, then it is called 'Microscopic Hematuria.'

                In either case, the blood that appears in the urine could come from any part of the genitourinary system (Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder, Prostate gland in males, Urethra, external genitalia). In menstruating women, if the urine is tested during mentruation, it might falsely indicate Hematuria due to contamination.

CAUSES:
       A.  KIDNEYS:
             1.   Infection (Pyelonephritis)
             2.   Tumor
             3.   Abnormal Blood Vessels in the kidneys
                    (Also known as AV-malformation)
             4.  Nephritis (esp., IGA-Nephropathy,
                                   Thin Membrane Disease,
                                  Henoch-Schonlein Purpura)
             5.   Increased Calcium excretion by the kidneys
             6.   Increased Uric Acid excretion by the kidneys
             7.   Kidney stones (Nephrolithiasis)
             8.   Polycystic Kidney Disease
             9.   Too much blood thinners (Coumadin, Aspirin, Heparin)
           10.   Sickle cell disease /  trait
           11.   Bleeding Disorders
           12.   In the absence of any identifiable cause, then it is
                   called 'Benign Nephrogenic Hematuria' due to
                   leaky filters in the kidney.

      B.  Ureters/Bladder/Urethra/external genitalia:
            1.  Infection      2.  Tumors        3.  Stones
            4.  Too much of Blood thinners (Coumadin, Aspirin, Heparin)
            5.  Bleeding Disorders

      C.  Prostate:
            1.  Infection (Prostatitis)
            2.  Cancer of the Prostate

SYMPTOMS OF HEMATURIA:
            The symptoms of Hematuria depend on the cause of such Hematuria. Most of the time it has no symptom and is discovered on routine testing of the urine. When it is symptomatic, one or more of the following might be present:

            1.   Reddish or Brownish discoloration of the urine
            2.   Loin Pain              3.  Pain while urinating
            4.   Urine grossly bloody after heavy physical activity or
                  with upper respiratory infections
            5.   Fever and / or chills (If the hematuria is due to infection)

TREATMENT:
            Specific treatment will depend on the cause of such Hematuria. Treatment of Hematuria in general might involve the following:

            1.   Finding the cause of Hematuria with appropriate examination
                  and tests. (On occasion, when the Hematuria is accompanied by
                  Proteinuria and / or Hypertension, a Kidney Biopsy may be needed
                  to establish the diagnosis)
            2.   Treating the cause
            3.   Increasing the volume of urine by drinking plenty of fluids,
                  so that blood does not form clots in the urine. (If blood clots
                  are formed in the urine they will act like 'kidney stone' and
                  cause pain and obstruction to the flow of urine)
            4.   Generally, restriction of physical activity depends on
                  the presence or absence of pain.  Hematuria in the absence of pain
                  does not usually require reducing physical activities. But this does
                  not apply if hematuria is due to injury or kidney biopsy.