What does hematuria indicate?

Hematuria specifically refers to the presence of blood in the urine. When individuals experience hematuria, it can manifest as either visible blood in the urine, which is known as gross hematuria, or blood that can only be detected through microscopic examination, referred to as microscopic hematuria. This condition can be an indication of various underlying health issues, including urinary tract infections, kidney stones, or more serious conditions such as tumors or glomerulonephritis.

The other options are related to urinary symptoms but do not accurately define hematuria. Pain during urination might suggest conditions such as infections or irritation but does not specifically indicate the presence of blood. An infection in the bladder could cause hematuria but is not solely defined by it, as not all bladder infections result in blood being present in the urine. Inflammation of the urinary tract may contribute to hematuria but does not capture the essence of what hematuria itself signifies. Thus, the correct understanding is that hematuria indicates blood in the urine.