Hematuria (blood in the urine) has many causes. It can appear as frank..producing abnormal colored urine ranging from tea colored to grossly bloody. It can also be microscopic and detectable only by urinalysis. Causes include strenuous exercise, trauma, infection, kidney stone, cysts, glomerular diseases of the kidney and tumors of the urinary tract. Sometimes despite an exhaustive workup no cause is found.
Tests you can expect include urinalysis, urine culture(to check for infection), blood chemistries, and urinary diagnostic tests which may include kidney and bladder ultrasound, CT scan, IVP, or cystoscpy.
Once the reason for the hematuria is discovered your nephrologist will outline a plan of treatment which may also include a referral to a urologist(surgical specialist of the kidney and bladder).
It is important for all adults to have a yearly screening of their urine at their annual physical. Hematuria-if detected-can be best treated when discovered promptly.
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