Blood in the urine is medically called hematuria, and it can be a shocking sight. It creates a natural tendency to worry and can make you wonder about several concerns and health conditions. Sometimes stomach infections can also be a cause of blood in urine.
What is a stomach infection?
Stomach flu or infection is a viral infection that impacts the stomach and intestines. This illness is known as viral gastroenteritis in medical language. Gastro refers to the stomach, enter refers to the small intestine, and it indicates inflammation, typically due to an infection. Viral signifies that a virus is the cause of the infection. Stomach flu or infection leads to symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. It’s commonly called a “stomach bug.” While a stomach bug can be caused by a virus, it can also result from bacteria or parasites with similar symptoms. It can be difficult to determine if a virus is the cause.
What are the common symptoms of stomach infection?
There are common visible symptoms of stomach infection. Here are the common symptoms of stomach flu:
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting and nausea
These symptoms are due to inflammation in your stomach and intestines. Although the term gastroenteritis refers to inflammation in the stomach and small intestine, it can also affect the large intestine. This inflammation is a response from your immune system to fight the virus.
What are the different types of stomach infections that might cause hematuria?
Dyspepsia:
Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia or an upset stomach, can result from issues either related or unrelated to the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include upper abdominal bloating and swelling. Depending on the cause, different treatments are used.
Hemophilia:
Hemophilia is one of several inherited bleeding disorders. Hemophilia A and B are passed down through an X-linked recessive pattern. Symptoms include bleeding into the joints, muscles, gastrointestinal or urinary tract, or brain and skull. Treatment typically involves replacing blood clotting factors.
Irritable bowel syndrome:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder characterized by constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. Treatment for IBS involves medications, dietary medications, and lifestyle changes.
What are the types of hematuria?
There are two main types of hematuria including gross hematuria and microscopic hematuria.
Gross hematuria:
If there is enough blood in your urine to make it look pink or red to have visible spots of blood, it is called gross hematuria.
Microscopic hematuria:
When there is a small amount of blood in urine that you can’t see, it is called “microscopic hematuria”. It can only be confirmed through a lab test that detects blood by a lab test that detects blood or by examining a urine sample under a microscope. Consult the best urology hospital in Coimbatore can help you seek accurate diagnosis and timely treatment for blood in urine.
What are the other possible causes of hematuria other than gastrointestinal issues?
Blood in urine occurs due to several reasons and it is not narrowed to only one specific body part. It may be due to an underlying cause in the gastrointestinal tract or even the urinary tract at times.
Here are the common reasons for blood in urine other than gastrointestinal concerns:
Infections:
Infection is a common cause of blood in the urine or hematuria. It can occur in the urinary tract, bladder, or even kidneys. Infections happen when bacteria travel up the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder. The bladder can reach the bladder and even the kidneys, causing pain and frequent urination. This may result in visible or invisible hematuria.
Enlarged prostate:
In middle-aged and older men, an enlarged prostate is a common cause of blood in the urine. The prostate gland is located just above the bladder and around the urethra. Men’s prostates frequently grow older and press against the urethra. This can lead to urination problems and prevent the bladder from emptying completely, resulting in a urinary tract infection with blood in urine.
Kidney stones:
Another frequent cause of blood in urine is the presence of bladder or kidney stones. These are crystals formed from minerals in the urine, which can develop within the kidneys or bladder. Large stones can block the urinary tract, leading to hematuria and intense pain.
Kidney disease:
A less frequent cause of blood in urine is kidney disease. A kidney disease that is diseased or inflamed can lead to hematuria. This condition can occur independently or as a complication of another illness, such as diabetes. In children, aged 6 to 10 years, a kidney condition called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis may cause hematuria. This condition can develop one to two weeks after an untreated strep infection. While it was common, it is now rare due to swift treatment of strep infections with medications.
Certain cancers:
Bladder, kidney, or prostate cancer can lead to blood in the urine, usually as a symptom that appears in advanced stages of the disease. Earlier signs of these cancers may not always be visible.
When should you see an urologist for blood in urine?
While blood in urine is always not a concern, as hematuria is caused by several including medications and consuming vegetables like beetroot. Most of the time you need not to worry, that being said you need to look for any changes or associated symptoms. It’s critical to contact the physician if,
- Constantly noticing blood in urine
- Stomach ache and blood in urine
- Having pain in the lower abdomen
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Pain while urinating
- Foul smelling urine
Can stomach infection cause blood in urine?
While it is extremely rare, certain conditions like gastroenteritis can cause blood in urine, when the infection has severely progressed and no timely treatment is received.
Where does the blood come to the urine?
Blood when urinating can come from anywhere and there is no definite way.
- Stomach lining or tissue
- Bladder
- Urethra
- Ureters
- Kidneys
What does hematuria look like?
Sometimes, there may not be any visible signs of a problem, but your urine might have an unusual color. It could appear pink, red, brownish-red, or tea-colored. This change can be alarming, but even a small amount of blood can cause a noticeable color change in urine.
What are the diagnostic procedures for blood in urine?
Urology experts use your medical history, a physical examination, and urinalysis to diagnose hematuria and determine its cause. During the physical examination, your urologist may conduct a digital rectal exam for men or a pelvic exam for women.
Urinalysis:
Your urologist will use urinalysis, which is a urine test, to examine a sample of your urine for the presence of blood. Sometimes, they may conduct additional urine tests to confirm the diagnosis of hematuria.
CT scan:
A specialized type of X-ray scan can detect stones, tumors, and other issues in your bladder, kidneys, and ureters.
Kidney biopsy:
In certain cases, your urologist may recommend a kidney biopsy to rule out any serious conditions.
What are the treatment options for blood urine?
Your doctor will treat the underlying condition causing blood in your urine. After treatment, they will retest to check if the blood has cleared. If blood is still present, further tests may be necessary, or you may be referred to a specialist such as a urologist or nephrologist.
Possible recommended treatment options can include:
- Medications for any underlying conditions
- Surgery or laser therapy for kidney stones
- Treatment to shrink or remove the prostate gland.
Can you prevent blood in urine?
There is not a lot you can do to prevent blood in urine other than maintaining good overall health. Keeping well-hydrated can support the health of your urinary tract, so aim to drink healthy levels of water regularly, especially while doing physical activity.
Important Takeaway:
Hematuria, which is blood in urine, indicates an issue within your urinary tract. To find the cause, it’s critical to seek medical evaluation from the best urology doctor in Coimbatore. While often due to an infection, it can also indicate more serious conditions.
