Hematuria means having red blood cells in your urine. You can have gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria. Gross hematuria means you can see that your urine is bloody or red. In microscopic hematuria, you won't be able to tell that there is blood in your urine, but your physician will be able to determine it through a urinalysis.
Acute Cystitis
Cystitis is the infection of your urinary bladder. Elizabeth Corwin, Ph.D. writes in "Handbook of Pathophysiology," that it is usually caused by bacteria and most of the time, by E. coli. Bacteria reach your bladder by migrating upwards from your urethra. Symptoms include pain in your lower abdomen, pain whenever you urinate, having to urinate frequently, feeling like you "gotta go now," and urine that may be red.
Glomerulonephritis
This refers to the inflammation of your glomeruli, or the capillaries in your kidneys. Your kidneys' capillaries can become damaged, with the result of hematuria, from several causes. You can develop glomerulonephritis as a result of a streptococcal infection, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Berger's disease, Alport's syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis or Goodpasture's syndrome. SLE is a disease that can affect your kidneys, other organs and body systems. Berger's, Wegener's and Goodpasture's all affect your lungs and kidneys. Alport's is a hereditary disease that causes deafness, eye and kidney problems.
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer. David Swanson, M.D., Clinical Professor at the University of Texas writes in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals" that 90 to 95 percent of the cancers that arise within the kidney are renal cell carcinoma. The risk factors for this disease include asbestos, obesity and smoking. You will usually not have any symptoms until the cancer is large. Then you can have (flank) pain in your lower back and hematuria.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
This is a hereditary disease where your kidneys are functioning until you are in your 30's or 40's. Then, both your kidneys will develop many cysts and increase in size. You may have (flank) pain in your lower back, as well as pain in your abdomen. You will usually have hematuria and develop hypertension. And you will also have a high risk of developing kidney failure by the time you are in your 70's.
Papillary Necrosis
This is a disease where parts of your kidney are destroyed due to the lack of oxygen. Christopher Cooper, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatric Urology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, writes in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery" that you are susceptible to develop papillary necrosis if you have diabetes, sickle cell trait or take too much pain medication. Your symptoms may include flank pain, or a sharp pain in your abdomen that "comes and goes." You will also have hematuria.
Nephrolithiasis
This is the term that is used for kidney stones. The risk factors for developing kidney stones include not drinking enough fluids, eating an excessive amount of protein or sodium, or having a family history of certain kidney disorders. If you have a kidney stone, you may have severe flank pain that "comes and goes," nausea and vomiting. You may also have hematuria.
References
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery"; Gerard Doherty, M.D.; 2010
- "Handbook of Pathophysiology"; Elizabeth Corwin, MSN, PhD, FNP; 2000
- The Merck Manual: Renal Cell Carcinoma
