[Medical Notes] HEMATURIA

Hematuria is the presence of blood in a person’s urine. People with gross hematuria have urine that is pink, red, or brown. Even a small amount of blood in the urine can cause urine to change color.

Taking a medical history may help a health care professional diagnose the cause of hematuria. They will ask the patient to provide a medical history, a review of symptoms, and a list of prescription and over-the-counter medications. The health care professional will also ask about current and past medical conditions.

During a physical exam, a health care professional most often taps on the abdomen and back, checking for pain or tenderness in the bladder and kidney area. A health care professional may perform a digital rectal exam on a man to look for any prostate problems. A health care professional may perform a pelvic exam on a woman to look for the source of possible red blood cells in the urine.

Health care professionals treat hematuria by treating its underlying cause. If no serious condition is causing a patient’s hematuria, he or she typically does not need treatment.

HEMATURIA