Hematuria in Children and Teenagers

Hematuria – or blood in urine – is a fairly common issue, especially in children and teenagers. Most of the time hematuria is not cause for concern.

There are two kinds of hematuria:

    1. Microscopic hematuria occurs when blood in the urine is only visible under a microscope, and is invisible to the naked eye. Most cases of microscopic hematuria go away without causing other issues, and the child
    2. Gross hematuria means that there are enough red blood cells in a person’s urine to turn it red. This type of hematuria also usually clears up on its own without complications, but sometimes it’s a sign of a more serious condition.

Blood can get in the urine for a number of reasons, such as:

  • Bladder or kidney infections
  • Defect in the urinary tract
  • Inherited conditions
  • Mineral imbalances in the urine
  • Kidney stones
  • Kidney diseases

Teenagers can also get hematuria due to menstruation, intense exercise, injuries to the kidneys or urinary tract, or certain medications.

Though the issue is most likely to resolve itself, it is best to get to a doctor to rule out the more serious potential conditions. You will likely need to provide a urine sample. If the test comes back negative, you may need to come back in 1 to 2 weeks to make sure the hematuria has cleared. If the tests are positive for microscopic hematuria and you haven’t shown other symptoms, your doctor will repeat the test as well.

More tests will need to be performed if the urine samples point to something more serious. Your doctor will come up with an appropriate treatment plan depending on your specific needs. If the hematuria is due to an infection, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics.