Blood in the urine. Small amounts of blood make urine look smoky or cloudy; large amounts turn it dark red or a tea-colored brown. Hematuria is abnormal and can be a sign of serious disease; it requires prompt attention from a physician. Depending on the cause, hematuria may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain on urination, aching in the abdomen or back, fever, frequent and urgent need to urinate, increased or decreased thirst, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Hematuria combined with pain in the side below the ribs may indicate a stone in the ureter (the tube connecting the kidney and bladder) or a kidney tumor. Infection, tumor, kidney stone, or blood vessels broken by the strain of urinating with an enlarged prostate are other possible causes. Certain kidney diseases, sickle cell anemia, injury to the urinary tract, a number of medications, an abnormally high concentration of calcium in the urine, and strenuous exercise can also cause the condition.
The presence of blood in the urine. The blood may come from the kidneys, one or both ureters, the bladder, or the urethra, as a result of injury or disease.