Hematuria is the name given to the presence of blood in the urine, either in easily visible amounts or in very small, microscopic quantities. A number of different conditions may cause it, though as a general rule these are not serious and are not likely to cause any long-term problems. The treatment for hematuria depends on the underlying reason for the blood, and can range from doing nothing to major surgery.
It is not unusual for blood to appear in the urine for no apparent reason and, while it can be quite alarming, in many cases the condition will resolve itself in a day or two if left alone. Often, even when the problem is investigated, no specific problem is found. In these cases there is no treatment for hematuria and the condition is typically monitored for signs of significant changes, but is otherwise allowed to resolve itself.
There are some things that can trigger blood in the urine, such as an infection of the urinary tract, kidney or bladder stones, or cancer. In these cases the treatment for hematuria may involve treating the underlying cause, particularly if a tumor is discovered. The patient may end up having surgery to remove the cancer, which is likely to be followed up with chemotherapy and, in many cases, radiation treatments as well. Stones sometimes require treatment, but they are also often left to pass on their own, and when they have moved out of the urinary tract the hematuria will typically stop.
Other factors that can contribute to blood in the urine are heavy exercise and injury to the urinary tract. If the bleeding is extreme surgery may be required to stop the flow, though this scenario is not common and is most likely to occur as the result of an automobile accident or other serious injury. In most cases the treatment for hematuria of this type is to monitor the condition and to intervene only if the bleeding becomes excessive.
Those who are most at risk for hematuria tend to be smokers, workers exposed to large amounts of radiation or chemicals, and people who take excessive amounts of pain medication. People who fall into any of these categories may find that there is no treatment for hematuria if they have it, but since it is likely to be benign there is usually little to worry about. Before deciding that blood in the urine is no cause for concern, though, anyone who experiences this problem should seek medical advice and be screened to make sure that there is no serious health problem behind it.
