A practical approach to hematuria in children.

Bilirubin or excessive ingestion of carotene or other food pigments can cause discoloration of urine similar to that seen in hematuria. The "red diaper syndrome" is caused by Serratia marcescens colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. Neoplasms are unusual causes of hematuria in children. Hematuria in the neonate may represent renal vein thrombosis, renal artery thrombosis, renal cortical necrosis or tubular necrosis. The most common cause of hematuria in children is glomerulonephritis, especially the poststreptococcal type.