WHAT IS HEMATURIA?
Hematuria is the presence of blood within the urine. There are two varieties:
- Gross hematuria: when the blood is visibly noticeable within the urine. It would look pink, pink or brown and cloudy.
- Microscopic hematuria: when the blood can solely be seen below a microscope.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD HAS MICROSCOPIC HEMATURIA?
So if the blood within the urine can’t be seen, how will dad and mom comprehend it’s there and what does it imply as soon as it’s discovered? Usually after we discover microscopic blood within the urine, one other symptom has initially introduced youngsters to the physician’s workplace. These signs are:
- Puffiness, notably across the eyes, arms or ft (swelling in these areas can go together with irritation within the kidneys)
- Ache within the stomach, ache in scrotum, groin or penis for boys and ache the urethra or vagina for ladies
- Dehydration or low urine output
- Signs of an undiagnosed (UTI), which may embody ache or no ache with elevated frequency of urination and/or wetting accidents.
- Damage to the again or stomach
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
Some youngsters naturally have blood of their urine and it’s not a trigger for concern (however they may must be adopted for a yr or so simply to verify). Different youngsters could have an underlying situation or household historical past of illness that will must be handled.
Microscopic hematuria doesn’t often must be investigated in in any other case wholesome youngsters. Nevertheless, extra analysis is required in case your baby has had three urine checks with microscopic hematuria over a number of months, or if different issues are taking place on the identical time, equivalent to:
- Hematuria with protein within the urine (might point out kidney illness)
- Hematuria together with hypertension (might point out kidney illness)
- Hematuria together with abnormalities on an ultrasound of the kidneys (kidney stones, kidney illness, swollen kidneys or cystic kidney illness)
Gross hematuria, or seen blood within the urine, often wants an analysis extra shortly, particularly to examine for hypertension and to make sure the kidneys are functioning usually.
It’s useful to notice if the gross hematuria occurred on the time of a chilly or flu, after a Strep an infection or damage, or was related to ache whereas urinating or different ache within the again or stomach.
In case you suspect your baby has hematuria, name your pediatrician for additional testing.