Mr. Wu is a 58-year-old retired employee. Two months ago, he suddenly noticed that his urine was pink, but because there was no other discomfort, he thought it was just an occasional situation and didn't pay much attention to it. After a few days, the blood in the urine disappeared, and Mr. Wu was relieved. However, only a month later, he had blood in the urine again, and this time with pain in the lower abdomen. Worried, he decided to go to the hospital for a check-up. After a comprehensive urinalysis and imaging tests, Mr. Ng was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
This real-life case shows that the occasional occurrence of hematuria may be just the tip of the iceberg of urological diseases. Many people do not take timely examination and treatment when they have hematuria, resulting in missing the opportunity to detect the disease early and delaying the disease. In fact, hematuria does not always mean a serious illness, but it can be the first sign of a urinary disorder, especially abnormalities in the kidneys, bladder, urethra, or prostate. Neither overt or occult hematuria can be ignored.
Early identification, classification, and further investigation of hematuria are essential to identify the underlying cause. The two main types of hematuria are described in detail and a look at the health problems they may indicate.
There are two main types of hematuria: dominant and occult
Overt hematuria: Overt hematuria is a visible change in the color of urine, usually red, pink, or brown. Even if it is only occasional overt hematuria, it should not be taken lightly as it can be a symptom of kidney stones, nephritis, cystitis, or urologic tumors. Kidney stones are the most common cause of overt hematuria, and stones can scratch the urethra or bladder, causing pain and bleeding. Nephritis is usually accompanied by flank pain or malaise, whereas urologic tumors may have no obvious other symptoms. Overt hematuria is usually the first sign of urological disease noted by the patient.
Occult hematuria: Occult hematuria refers to red blood cells detected by microscopic examination or urine dipsticks. Occult hematuria, which is not visible to the naked eye, can be even more dangerous because people often don't realize that something is wrong with their urinary system. Common causes of occult hematuria include mild infection, early tumors, and glomerular disorders such as nephritis. It may indicate a disorder similar to overt hematuria, but is usually absent from accompanying symptoms such as pain and is therefore more likely to be overlooked.
Both overt and occult hematuria should be taken seriously, and the condition should not be judged by the disappearance or recurrence of hematuria alone. With comprehensive urinalysis, imaging tests, and other diagnostic tools, doctors are able to more accurately identify the underlying cause of hematuria. Early detection and treatment can help increase cure rates and reduce the potential harm of the disease. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention immediately and get a thorough examination when any symptoms of hematuria appear.
Hematuria may indicate urological disorders: latent red flags
When urine is mixed with blood and appears pink, red, or brown, it may indicate a variety of potential problems with the urinary system.
Kidney disease
The kidneys are organs that filter blood and excrete waste products, and their dysfunction often leads to hematuria. Kidney stones, pyelonephritis or kidney cancer can cause blood in the urine. Kidney stones are usually accompanied by severe low back pain, especially when the stones are migrated. Pelonephritis is often accompanied by fever, low back pain, and frequent urination. Kidney cancer is relatively insidious in the early stage, and hematuria may be the only symptom in the early stage, and if not treated in time, the tumor may invade adjacent tissues and threaten life.
Bladder disease
The bladder is the main organ for storing urine. Cystitis, bladder stones, and bladder cancer can all cause blood in the urine. Cystitis is usually accompanied by symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency, and painful urination. Bladder stones can cause painful urination and difficulty urinating. The early symptoms of bladder cancer may be only painless hematuria, and early diagnosis and treatment are critical for survival.
Urethral and ureteral problems
The ureters are the ducts that connect the kidneys to the bladder, and the urethra is the final passage for urination. Ureteral stones or tumors, urethritis, or urethral injuries can cause hematuria. Ureteral stones are often accompanied by severe flank pain, nausea, and vomiting. Urethritis may be accompanied by painful urination and urethral discharge, while urethral injury may be caused by intubation, trauma, or infection.
Prostate disease
Prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are both common diseases in older men. Prostatic hyperplasia compresses the urethra, causing urinary frequency, urgency, difficulty urinating, and blood in the urine. Prostate cancer may have no obvious symptoms in its early stages, or it may present with only mild hematuria. Therefore, regular medical check-ups are essential for early detection.
Concomitant symptoms of hematuria and its indications: identifying the red flags behind it
pain
Pain is an important clue to diagnosing a disease. Kidney stones usually cause severe cramping in the lower back, and as the stone moves, the location of the pain changes. Cystitis or urethritis is often accompanied by painful urination and vague pain in the lower abdomen, while bladder stones can also cause painful or interrupted urination. Low back, abdominal or lower abdominal pain with blood in the urine may point to problems such as urinary infections, stones or tumors.
Abnormal urination
Abnormal urination is closely related to urological disorders. Urinary frequency, urgency, and dysuria are often associated with prostatic hyperplasia, urethritis, and bladder disease. Blood in the urine with foamy urine can be a sign of kidney damage or inflammation. Symptoms such as interrupted urination, thinning of the urine stream, and incomplete urination also require attention and may indicate prostate or bladder dysfunction.
Other constitutional symptoms
Systemic symptoms may point to a serious infection or tumor of the urinary system. Fever, chills, and fatigue along with flank pain and haematuria may point to pyelonephritis. Nausea and vomiting may be a gastrointestinal reaction to the pain caused by kidney stones. Significant weight loss or persistent tiredness raises suspicion of the possibility of malignancy.
By observing the accompanying symptoms of hematuria, patients are able to initially identify potential urological problems and seek help from their doctor early. Prompt medical attention and check-ups can help to detect underlying diseases and obtain better treatment outcomes.