Guide To The Causes Of Blood In Urine (Hematuria)

Kidney Infection

Kidney infection patients may notice blood in their urine. An infection of the kidneys is a type of urinary tract infection and may occur in one or both of an individual's kidneys. The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that sit just behind the rib cage in the middle of an individual's back. The kidneys contain thousands of tiny filters through which 150 quarts of blood flow through every day. Between one and two quarts of urine is produced through this process from the waste material and excess water the kidneys filter from the blood. However, this and other functions can become impaired when an infection-causing pathogen colonizes in the kidney. The infection causes damage in the tiny filters and other kidney tissues, resulting in symptoms like high fever, frequent and painful urination, nausea and vomiting, and pain in the back and side. Hematuria occurs because of the pathogenic and inflammatory damage that allows blood to leak from the vessels and small filters into the urine stream.

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is the inflammation of the tiny kidney filters called glomeruli. It has numerous causes, including viral infection, bacterial infection, lupus, Goodpasture's syndrome, IgA nephropathy, vasculitis, high blood pressure, glomerulosclerosis, and diabetes. Glomeruli are made out of numerous knots of tiny blood vessels that utilize homeostatic processes to extract excess fluid and waste substances from the blood. The more glomeruli that are affected by inflammation, the greater the amount of tissue damage and more of a decrease in kidney function. Glomerulonephritis can occur as an acute condition or as a chronic condition. Gross hematuria that turns the urine a dark red rust color is more likely to occur in individuals who are affected by acute glomerulonephritis, while microscopic hematuria is more likely to occur in chronic glomerulonephritis.