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The urine is red in the baby
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Features of hematuria in children are related to age indicators. Red urine in a child aged 9-12 months to 2 years can be considered a relatively acceptable symptom. This is explained by the fact that the renal filtration function in babies is not yet formed and the glomerular cells do not retain red blood cells, passing them into the urine. Variants of the norm for the presence of red blood cells in the urine during microscopic examination in children under 2 years old are 5 in the sediment in the field of view.
Normal indicators for children after 2 years of age are as follows:
- 2-4 - for girls.
- 1-2 - for boys.
- After 4 years of age, children should not have traces of blood in their urine.
Exceeding normal values is evidence of the onset of a pathological process and a reason for a comprehensive examination.
Reasons
Reasons why red urine may appear in children:
- Pyelonephritis.
- Cystitis.
- Viral infections.
- Intestinal infections.
- Chemical intoxication.
- Congenital nephropathologies.
- Congenital endocrine pathologies.
- Anemia.
- Glomerulonephritis.
There are also physiological factors that are not considered pathologies:
- Hypothermia or, on the contrary, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, heat stroke.
- Violation of diet, consumption of foods containing nitrates, preservatives, chemical dyes.
- A course of treatment with specific medications.
- Physical overexertion. In children, overexertion can be caused by prolonged crying and hysteria.
An accurate diagnosis should be made by a doctor; parents should remember that self-medication is unacceptable, as it is fraught with serious complications and the risk of missing the onset of the disease.
For other reasons for the appearance of red urine, read this article.
[ What to do?
Read this article for more information on what to do, which doctor to see, and how to treat if your child has red urine.