 Introduction/Background Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in the urine, either visible to the eye (macroscopic hematuria) or as viewed under the microscope (microscopic hematuria). Detecting blood in the urine of a child may cause alarm to patients, parents, and physicians. The next step is a thorough evaluation of the urine. Tea-colored urine and hematuria accompanied by proteinuria (>2+ by dip stick), red blood cell casts, and deformed red blood cells (best seen with phase contrast microscopy) suggest a glomerular source of hematuria (eg, glomerulonephritis) [6]. The presence of white cells and microorganisms within the urine clearly indicate the possibility of a urinary tract infection, which will direct care and imaging by a different set of criteria. Evaluation for hypercalciuria (such as a spot urine calcium/creatinine ratio) and a urine culture may be indicated. When concern for chronic kidney disease exists, basic laboratory metabolic screening in the initial evaluation should include blood urea nitrogen test, a serum creatinine test, and complete blood count with platelets. If suggested by the initial clinical workup, more advanced medical assessment for various causes of glomerulonephritis and vasculitis should be performed, and an audiogram and slit lamp examinations should be performed if there is suspicion for Alport syndrome [7-13]. Isolated hematuria (nonpainful, nontraumatic) Painful hematuria In children with post-traumatic macroscopic hematuria, the role of imaging is to identify any evidence and the extent of renal or urinary tract injury. In other children, imaging has a role in identifying the cause of hematuria and to assess the size of the kidneys as an indicator of the chronicity of the renal disease and also as an assessment Reprint requests to: publications@acr.org
Hematuria Child.  Introduction/Background Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in the urine, either visible to the eye (macroscopic hematuria) or as viewed under the microscope (microscopic hematuria). Detecting blood in the urine of a child may cause alarm to patients, parents, and physicians. The next step is a thorough evaluation of the urine. Tea-colored urine and hematuria accompanied by proteinuria (>2+ by dip stick), red blood cell casts, and deformed red blood cells (best seen with phase contrast microscopy) suggest a glomerular source of hematuria (eg, glomerulonephritis) [6]. The presence of white cells and microorganisms within the urine clearly indicate the possibility of a urinary tract infection, which will direct care and imaging by a different set of criteria. Evaluation for hypercalciuria (such as a spot urine calcium/creatinine ratio) and a urine culture may be indicated. When concern for chronic kidney disease exists, basic laboratory metabolic screening in the initial evaluation should include blood urea nitrogen test, a serum creatinine test, and complete blood count with platelets. If suggested by the initial clinical workup, more advanced medical assessment for various causes of glomerulonephritis and vasculitis should be performed, and an audiogram and slit lamp examinations should be performed if there is suspicion for Alport syndrome [7-13]. Isolated hematuria (nonpainful, nontraumatic) Painful hematuria In children with post-traumatic macroscopic hematuria, the role of imaging is to identify any evidence and the extent of renal or urinary tract injury. In other children, imaging has a role in identifying the cause of hematuria and to assess the size of the kidneys as an indicator of the chronicity of the renal disease and also as an assessment Reprint requests to: publications@acr.org