cause of blood in the urine in children
-Medications such as antibiotics (rifampin), analgesics (aspirin), phenytoin, quinine, and blood-thinning drugs like warfarin
Blood disorders
- Hemophilia or other clotting disorders
- Sickle cell disease
- A blood clot in the kidneys
- Low platelet count
The biggest worry with blood in the urine is bladder cancer – the classic patient is an older person who is a smoker and notices blood in his urine but has no other symptoms. These folks need aggressive evaluation.
What should I do?
People with blood in their urine should ALWAYS consult their doctors. If you have a urinary tract infection or a kidney stone, you should drink a lot of water; blood in the urine also means that you should avoid acidic drinks such as coffee, tea, or citrus juices, all of which can irritate the bladder. Depending on the symptoms, a referral to a specialist such as a urologist may be necessary. In addition to blood that may or may not be visible in the toilet, other potential signs of infection may include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Frequent or urgent urination
- Fever, nausea, vomiting, shaking chills, or pain in the abdomen, side or back
- Inability to urinate
- Passing blood clots through the urine
- Pain during sex or heavy menstrual bleeding
- Dribbling urine, excessive nighttime urination, or difficulty starting to urinate
Although these symptoms may be caused by another health problem, you should consult a physician to find out what the problem is and what needs to be done to treat it.
How can I find out what’s causing blood in the urine?
A doctor may order a series of tests to find the cause. These tests may