Haematuria in Nigerians: a prospective study

One hundred and ninety Nigerians who presented with haematuria at an out-patient department were fully investigated and treated. There were 135 males and 55 females of mean age 37.8 years. Fifty-eight per cent of them presented over 3 months after onset of symptoms. Haematuria was severe in 27%, painless in 50%, intermittent in 26%. Infection accounted for 22.6%, neoplasms 17.4%, schistosomiasis, 14.2%, trauma 13.7%, benign prostatic hyperplasia 7.9%, calculous disease 7.9% and haemoglobinopathy 2.6%. There was no case of haematuria due to Hb type AS. Aetiology was unknown in 1.6%. Urethrocystoscopy and intravenous urography were the most rewarding investigations. All patients with carcinoma of the bladder presented very late and none survived more than 1 year after diagnosis. Eighty-six per cent of the cases were of non-schistosomal origin and the need for early and thorough investigation of haematuria is stressed.