Having Blood in Urine Can Be a Symptom of Several Medical Conditions
Having blood in your urine can be a sign of several different medical conditions. You may have cancer of the urethra, bladder, or kidneys. Or you may have microscopic hematuria. You may also have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a bladder infection. The best way to know what you have is to have a urinary tract ultrasound. This can be done in a doctor’s office.
Microscopic hematuria
Having blood in your urine may be a symptom of several different medical conditions, and this is not always a serious issue. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including infections, glomerulonephritis, kidney cancer, and other disorders. If your physician finds blood in your urine, he or she will work with you to diagnose the cause. There are several tests that may help the doctor determine the cause. Some of the tests may be simple, while others require longer-term treatment.
There are two different types of blood in your urine: gross and microscopic hematuria. Gross hematuria is the presence of blood in your urine that is visible to the naked eye. It might be pink, brown, or even red. It may also contain blood strings or even blood clots. These blood clots can be large and hard to detect with the naked eye. They can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain while urinating. If you have gross hematuria, it is a good idea to get a blood test to see if there are any infections that may be causing your hematuria. If you have microscopic hematuria, your urine may be contaminated with bacteria or other materials. This can occur when a bladder or urethra has been weakened by a pelvic organ prolapse, or when the urine has been contaminated by the menstrual cycle.
Microscopic hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in your urine, usually at a very low level. These red blood cells may be coming from anywhere in your urinary tract. They can be from the kidney, the ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. If you have blood in your urine, you may be experiencing an infection, your kidneys may be clogged with crystals, or you may have a kidney tumor. It is important to get a blood test as soon as possible to identify the cause.
When you have a hematuria test, your urine will be analyzed using a microscope. Your urine may appear red, pink, or brown because of the pigments or food dyes that are in your urine. The presence of blood in your urine may be an indication of an infection or may be a sign of a tumor, especially one that is malignant. You may also have blood clots, which are small red masses of clotted blood in your urine. They may be accompanied by a bloody discharge, which may be a pure blood or mixed with pus. These clots are not life-threatening, but they can lead to anemia. Your physician may suggest other tests, such as imaging, to confirm the diagnosis. You may also be prescribed antibiotics.
The main reason why blood is present in your urine is due to bacteria or infection. Your physician may recommend a blood test, pap smear, or urine culture to identify the infection. You may also need a cystoscopy, which is a small telescope that is used to examine the bladder and urethra. The cystoscopy may be used to check for urinary tract stones or neoplasms, which can be present in the bladder or urethra.
Cancer of the urethra, bladder, or kidneys
Symptoms of cancer of the urethra, bladder, or kidneys include pain when voiding, hematuria, fever, and loss of appetite. The most common types of cancer are transitional cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma. Other types are less common, including noninvasive papillary carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. A complete evaluation of the urethra should include a urine test and imaging of the kidneys.
A CT scan or MRI may be used to detect abnormalities in the bladder. These imaging tests can also help determine if cancer has spread outside the bladder. If cancer has spread to the kidney, systemic chemotherapy may be used. Surgical treatment is often used to remove tumors. If the tumor has not spread past the surface, segmental resection may be performed. The surgeon may also remove tissue around the tumor. If the tumor has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, a nephroureterectomy may be required.
Symptoms of bladder cancer include persistent fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, hematuria, edema, and a feeling of urinating too often. Patients may also experience flank pain. Urine that is visibly red or has blood in it may be a sign of a tumor. If cancer is suspected, a biopsy should be performed. An experienced pathologist can determine whether abnormal cells are cancerous.
The risk of bladder cancer varies depending on the size and location of the tumor. Patients with small tumors may be treated with laser therapy. The treatment for high-risk tumors may include regional chemotherapy. Patients with high-risk tumors may need to have a longer follow-up. If the tumor has spread to other parts of the urinary tract, more frequent follow-up is needed. If you have bladder cancer, ask your doctor if you should have any of these tests.
If cancer has spread to the ureter, the surgeon may choose to remove the kidney. This surgery is called radical nephroureterectomy. The surgeon may also remove surrounding lymph nodes. If the tumor has not spread past the bladder, the surgeon may perform an endoscopic removal of the tumor. Alternatively, the surgeon may insert a nephrostomy tube through the urethra into the kidney. During the removal of the kidney, the surgeon may also remove surrounding tissue.
In addition to bladder cancer, other types of cancer of the urethra include adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Small-cell carcinomas develop from neuroendocrine cells. The cells look like skin cells on the surface of the skin. In some people, certain types of human papillomavirus are believed to be responsible for urethral cancer.
Urothelial cancers of the upper urinary tract can be diagnosed with a CT scan. These tumors are usually found in the lining of the ureter. MRI can also be used to evaluate the kidney, ureter, and bladder. A CT scan is usually used for abdominal/pelvic CT scans with contrast dye. These types of tumors may be high-grade or low-grade. Low-grade tumors often recur, while high-grade tumors are aggressive.
Treatment
Whenever blood is found in the urine, it can be a sign of a serious medical condition. You should visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
There are several different causes for blood in the urine. Some of the causes include kidney stones, urethral trauma, and infection. It may be difficult to determine the cause of blood in urine because it may look like another type of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Blood in the urine may also be caused by drugs or medications. This includes antibiotics, anticoagulants, and blood thinners. You should not take any of these medicines without a doctor’s advice. These medicines may actually make you worse rather than help.
Blood in the urine can also be a symptom of other serious medical conditions. In this case, treatment is focused on managing the underlying disorder. The urologist is the only medical specialist who can evaluate blood in urine completely. He or she may perform a biopsy to find out if cancer is the cause of blood in the urine. Other treatments include antibiotics and shock wave therapy. You may also have to have a cystoscopy, which is a procedure in which a thin tube is passed through the bladder and into the urethra.
Blood in the urine can be caused by a number of different factors, including kidney stones, cancer, urethral trauma, and infection. You should seek medical treatment if you have a fever, coughing, or any other symptoms that indicate you have blood in your urine. You may also have to have imaging tests to find out the underlying cause. Imaging tests can include MRI, CT, or ultrasound of the pelvis and abdomen. These tests can also help detect kidney stones.
Blood in the urine can also be caused by certain medications and foods. These include drugs used to treat cancer, blood thinners, and antibiotics. You may also develop blood in urine if you have taken certain drugs, such as penicillin or antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may have blood in your urine because cancer has spread to the kidneys. You may also have blood in your urine if you have an enlarged prostate. You may also have blood in urine resulting from inflammation of the urinary bladder.
Blood in the urine can also be accompanied by another symptom, such as rectal bleeding. If you have hematuria, you should seek medical treatment immediately. It can be a sign of a cancerous tumor or kidney stone. If the hematuria is not serious, you may be able to treat the condition with a UTI. If it is serious, it may indicate cancer. A doctor will also perform imaging tests to identify any tumors.
If you are over 50, you may also have a greater chance of developing cancer. Depending on your risk factors, you may need a more thorough evaluation. You may also need to have imaging tests, such as MRI, to find out if there is a tumor or stones in your urinary tract.
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