What is the cause of painless hematuria (presence of blood in urine) in a child with a normal computed tomography (CT) scan, normal comprehensive metabolic panel 13 (chem13), and normal urinalysis?

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Differential Diagnosis for Painless Hematuria in a Child

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

  • Hypercalciuria: This condition is a common cause of painless hematuria in children, characterized by an excess of calcium in the urine. The normal CT scan and chem13 results support this diagnosis, as hypercalciuria is often associated with normal imaging and laboratory findings.

Other Likely Diagnoses

  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Although the urinalysis is normal, some UTIs may not present with typical findings such as leukocyte esterase or nitrites. A urine culture may be necessary to rule out this diagnosis.
  • Nephrolithiasis: Kidney stones can cause hematuria, and a normal CT scan does not entirely rule out this diagnosis, especially if the stones are small or composed of certain materials that are not visible on CT.
  • Glomerulonephritis: This condition can cause hematuria, and some forms may not present with significant proteinuria or other abnormalities on urinalysis.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

  • Wilms Tumor: Although rare, Wilms tumor is a malignant neoplasm that can cause painless hematuria in children. A normal CT scan does not rule out this diagnosis, and further imaging or biopsy may be necessary.
  • Renal Vein Thrombosis: This condition can cause hematuria and is more common in children with underlying conditions such as nephrotic syndrome. A normal CT scan does not rule out this diagnosis, and further imaging or laboratory tests may be necessary.

Rare Diagnoses

  • Alport Syndrome: A genetic disorder that affects the type IV collagen in the kidneys, leading to hematuria and progressive kidney disease.
  • Thin Basement Membrane Nephropathy: A rare condition characterized by a thinning of the glomerular basement membrane, leading to hematuria and occasionally kidney disease.
  • Sickle Cell Disease: A genetic disorder that can cause hematuria due to sickling of red blood cells in the kidneys.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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