What are common causes for urine discolouration?

Doctor's Answer

Hi,

When there is discoloration of urine it is ideal to figure out if that could be a normal response to dehydration, when the urine is more concentrated and either dark yellow or almost brown. If this indeed happens when you do not drink sufficient water, just try to hydrate yourself better.

But it is important to be sure it is not a manifestation of kidney disease, specifically blood in the urine. Many medical conditions like liver disease can also change the colour of the urine to a darker one. Some types of anaemia, where the red blood cells are destroyed can also cause the urine to be dark, even black. Urine infections can make the urine turbid and can even cause bleeding in the urine.

What makes things more complex, some medications and some food can also make the urine darker or looking like blood, which can look scary.

Crystals passed in the urine can make the urine turbid and tiny kidneys stones can be passed also in the urine and they are more likely to occur in people who don’t drink sufficient water. There are also rare severe diseases that even can make little pieces of the kidney coming off in the urine.

Therefore, it will be ideal you visit a doctor (ideally a kidney doctor), to do some chemical analysis in your urine and check the urine sediment as well; also to check your kidney function tests and other laboratory parameters, take a history of your symptoms and past medical condition, and examine you to try to pin down the cause, recommend investigations and perhaps treat you. But do hydrate yourself better.

Dr Francisco, wishing you the best possible health.

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