Hematuria in adolescents

Hematuria is not a rare finding during adolescence. The high prevalence of microscopic hematuria is not surprising when one considers the vast number of ways in which RBC can end up in the urine. The adolescent presenting with gross hematuria, proteinuria, or microscopic hematuria in combination with other symptoms of genitourinary disease is more likely to require a therapeutic intervention than is the individual found incidentally to have microscopic hematuria. Screening for hematuria is not supported by current evidence. When it is discovered as the result of a screening examination, persistent microscopic hematuria in an otherwise asymptomatic individual may not require further investigation; however, the renal ultrasound examination has little risk and is helpful in diagnosing many of the conditions amenable to intervention. Serum studies offer little useful information in the evaluation of microscopic hematuria. Addressing isolated hematuria in a systematic, evidence-based fashion can help avoid untoward patient and parental worry and excessive health care costs, without missing treatable or progressive disease entities.