Haematuria means that there is blood in the urine (wee).
Often, children with haematuria have no symptoms. If there is a lot of blood, the urine may be red or dark brown. In most children, haematuria is transient (temporary) not serious. However, in some children it is a sign that there is a problem with their kidneys which may need special treatment.
There are two types of haematuria.
- Macroscopic haematuria – also called visible haematuria. This means that the blood can be seen in the urine. The urine is red or dark brown (like a cola drink).
- Microscopic haematuria – also called non-visible haematuria. There is only a small amount of blood in the urine so it cannot be seen but can be found by a urine test.
How common is haematuria?
About 1 in 30 children will have microscopic haematuria. In most cases this is transient. Visible haematuria is rare.
What are the symptoms of haematuria?
Most children with haematuria do not have any symptoms.
- Some children feel that they need to pass urine (wee) more often than usual
- A few children have pain when passing urine (having a wee)
- A very small number of children also have pain in their loin area. This is the part of the back on either side of the spine. The pain may come on suddenly or slowly over time
If your child has any of the above symptoms, take them to your doctor for a urine test.