Hematuria in Children

Hematuria is blood in the urine. Blood may be visible in the urine, or it may be identified with a test. This condition can be caused by infections of the bladder, urethra, kidney, or prostate. Other possible causes include:

• Kidney stones.
• Cancer of the urinary tract.
• Too much calcium in the urine.
• Conditions that are passed from parent to child (inherited conditions).
• Exercise that requires a lot of energy.
• Certain infections, like strep throat.
• High fever.

Infections can usually be treated with medicine, and a kidney stone usually will pass through your child’s urine. If neither of these is the cause of the hematuria, more tests may be needed to identify the cause of your child’s symptoms.

It is very important to tell your child’s health care provider about any blood in your child’s urine, even if it is painless or the blood stops without treatment. Blood in the urine, when it happens and then stops and then happens again, can be a symptom of a very serious condition, including cancer. There is no pain in the initial stages of many urinary cancers.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• If your child was prescribed an antibiotic medicine, give it to your child as told by his or her health care provider. Do not stop giving the antibiotic even if your child starts to feel better.

Eating and drinking

• Have your child drink enough fluid to keep his or her urine clear or pale yellow. If your child has been diagnosed with an infection, it is recommended that he or she drink cranberry juice in addition to large amounts of water.
• Have your child avoid caffeine, tea, and carbonated beverages. These tend to irritate the bladder.

General instructions

• If your child has been diagnosed with a kidney stone, follow the health care provider’s instructions about straining his or her urine to catch the stone.
• Have your child empty his or her bladder often. He or she should avoid holding urine for long periods of time.
• If your child is female, make sure that she:
  • Wipes from front to back after a bowel movement.
  • Uses each piece of toilet paper only once.
• Pay attention to any changes in your child’s symptoms. Tell your child’s health care provider about any changes or any new symptoms.
• It is your responsibility to get your child’s test results. Ask your child’s health care provider, or the department performing the test, when the results will be ready.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your child has pain in his or her back, side, or abdomen.
• Your child has:
  • Urinary accidents.
  • A fever.
  • A rash.
  • Joint pain or swelling.
  • Swelling of the face, abdomen, or legs.
  • New red or brown blood in his or her urine.
• Your child urinates more frequently than usual.
• Your child stops urinating.
• Your child develops bruising or bleeding.
• Your child develops a headache.
• Your child passes blood clots in his or her urine.
• Your child loses weight.

Get help right away if:

• Your child has uncontrolled bleeding.
• Your child develops shortness of breath.
• Your child who is younger than 3 months has a fever of 100°F (38°C) or higher.

Summary

• Hematuria is blood in the urine. It has many possible causes.
• It is very important to tell your child’s health care provider about any blood in your child’s urine, even if it is painless or the blood stops without treatment.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Have your child drink enough fluid to keep his or her urine clear or pale yellow.