Assessment and triage of paediatric haematuria in primary care: A practical guide for GP registrars

InnovAiT, XX(X), 1-4 H aematuria in children, defined as five or more red blood cells (RBCs) per high-power field in a mid-stream urine sample, is a relatively common finding in general practice that frequently causes parental concern.It can be broadly classified as macroscopic (visible blood, 'cola', or 'smoky' urine) or microscopic (occult blood detected only on microscopy or dipstick).Although the prevalence of microscopic haematuria is estimated to be low, the underlying causes span a wide spectrum from benign, transient conditions, such as urinary tract infection (UTI) or viral illness, to serious organ-threatening diseases, including glomerulonephritis, malignancy (e.g.Wilms' tumour) and chronic renal disease.The GP registrar's critical role is to perform an efficient, safe initial work-up to reliably distinguish between benign and serious aetiologies, and to initiate timely, risk-stratified referral when 'red flags' are present.This article provides a systematic, evidence-based triage pathway for the primary care assessment of paediatric haematuria.