The color of a healthy person's urine. The norm and deviations from it. Urine color: norm and pathology

Urine – the most important indicator human health. By its color, experts judge the state of health in general and individual organs in particular. It happens that urine turns brown or tea color, which does not always indicate pathology.

Brown urine - what does it mean?

A slight change in the color of urine is not considered dangerous, because in the morning urine is often dark due to the high content of urochrome. And if a person drinks a lot of liquid, then his urine takes on a bright yellow tint. But there are situations when a change in the shade of urine indicates serious problems with health.

The causes of dark urine can be different - from the foods you eat to the things you take. medicines. But the picture is much more dangerous for those who observe such changes in connection with renal pathologies. Out of their own ignorance, they attribute them to harmless reasons.

Causes

There can be many factors that can cause urine color to change. Starting from products and ending with serious kidney pathology.

In general, the reason for urine discoloration to dark brown can be:

  • Fluid deficiency – due to this, the concentration of urochrome in the body increases;
  • Taking medications - Salol, Neftol, some laxatives change the color of urine;
  • Hypersweating caused by climate change or physical activity;
  • Consumption of low-quality products containing dyes;
  • Jaundice – the process of removing enzymes that color the urine is disrupted;
  • Prostatic pathologies;
  • Renal-hepatic pathologies of an inflammatory nature - such changes often occur due to impurities of blood or pus caused by the disease;
  • Genitourinary pathologies;
  • Women's diseases.

Products

Explanation of why urine turned dark Brown may be the use of certain products that contain pigment substances. Urine can become brown after eating rhubarb or beef, legumes like peas, soy or beans, etc. In addition, drinks with dyes, for example, Coca-Cola or strong tea, etc., darken the color of urine. Urine can acquire an orange tint if the diet will contain a large amount of persimmons, carrots or oranges.

If the urine becomes dark due to the consumption of these products, this is not considered a dangerous symptom and can be eliminated by changing the diet.

Medications

Urochrome, which gives richness to the color of urine, is water-soluble, so when consumed large quantity liquid, the urine becomes very light, and in the morning, due to the high concentration of urochrome, it is too dark. If a person is taking certain medications, their urine may also become darker.

Typically, the following drugs have a similar effect:

  • Antimicrobial drugs like Metronidazole, Furadonin, Rifampicin, etc.;
  • Preparations based on aloe
  • Quinine medications such as Chloroquine or Primaquine, Delagil, etc.;
  • Carbolic acid preparations - Creosote, Naphthol, Salol or Phenol;
  • Laxative drugs containing cascara or senna extract;
  • Vitamin preparations like ascorbic acid or B vitamins.

Such manifestations do not at all mean that a particular medication is not suitable for the patient and therefore does not need to be replaced.

Drugs that color urine brown

Diseases

It is much more dangerous if the change in urine color occurs due to various kinds pathologies:

  1. Severe kidney damage such as urolithiasis, when stones injure tissue, causing blood to appear in the urine. If tumor processes or polycystic disease occur, the urine turns brown, resembling meat slop;
  2. Kidney diseases, in which a large amount of different pigments such as bilirubin are released into the urine. Similar phenomenon observed with jaundice;
  3. Inflammatory pathologies such as urethritis or cystitis, glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis can also lead to changes in the color of urine;
  4. High concentrations of bilirubin are observed in hemolytic anemia;
  5. In addition, changes in urine are observed in cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, vasculitis and collagenosis, tyrosinemia and autoimmune pathologies, as well as in oncopathologies in the liver and pancreas.

In children

Darkening of urine can also occur in children under certain circumstances. Like the adult population, in a child the color of urine is affected by the food and drinks consumed. If the baby ate beets, carrots, rhubarb or blueberries, then the coloring pigments from these products will definitely color the urine dark brown or Orange color.

Affects the color of urine and dehydration, taking medications, intestinal infections and dyspeptic disorders, uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea. If changes in urine are accompanied by hyperthermia and pain, then they are classified as pathological signs indicating the development of a disease, for example, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, etc.

Among women

In the fairer sex, brown urine can be observed during pregnancy, when the patient is worried about severe toxicosis, in which severe dehydration occurs due to vomiting.

In addition, female urine acquires dark shades due to various types of gynecological pathologies in the water:

  • Cervical tumors;
  • Diseases of venereal origin;
  • Nonspecific inflammation of the female genital area.

If drinking regime and the diet has been changed, but the urine still remains dark, then you need to undergo an examination.

In men

The male half of humanity can undergo changes in the shades of urine according to various reasons. Dehydration or pathologies, food or drinks - all of this can affect male urine. If such a symptom is provoked by a disease, then signs appear that make it easier to identify the underlying pathology. Typically, in men, darkening of urine is accompanied by nausea, hyperthermia, pain in the abdominal area, painful or foul-smelling urination.

The cause of such a symptom complex can be pathologies such as:

  • Prostatitis. With such a disease, stagnation in the gland is observed, which causes the release of red blood cells into the urine. This is what causes it to darken;
  • Inflammation of the vas deferens, testicles or prostate;
  • Traumatic injuries to the testicles, epididymis, etc.

U male half changes in the shades of urine can be both pathological and physiological in nature. With the pathological nature of such a symptom, additional signs are observed such as hyperthermia and nausea, painful and unpleasant-smelling urination, abdominal pain, etc. In this case, urgent consultation with a specialist is necessary.

In older people

In an elderly person, brown urine may be due to prostatic adenoma, stones in the bladder or kidneys, excessive physical strain, or genitourinary infections.

Dangerous combinations

In some cases, when a change in the color of urine is combined with certain symptoms, it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist.

  1. If dark brown urine is accompanied by intense lumbar pain or painful urination, swelling and fever, this often indicates renal pathologies;
  2. If the darkening of urine is accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting, then this further aggravates the situation, dehydrating the body. A similar picture is often observed in acute intestinal pathologies;
  3. Another dangerous combination that requires immediate intervention from a specialist is dark urine combined with difficulty urinating and painful sensations in the testicles, especially if the testicles have recently been injured.

The specifics of the appearance of colored urine in different groups of patients may differ, so treatment is also selected differently.

Reason to see a doctor

Any changes in urine require the patient's attention. If they are triggered by loss of fluid or certain foods, then with a change in diet and sufficient drinking regimen, the color of the urine will be restored. If changes are observed over several days and do not go away for a long time, and what is even worse, are supplemented by painful sensations in the abdomen or lower back, then you must immediately seek the help of a urologist or nephrologist.

The doctor will carry out the appropriate diagnostic measures, will appoint necessary tests and studies such as biochemical and general analysis, urine samples, blood samples, etc. Most often pathological causes are associated with renal pathologies and diseases of the female/male reproductive system, therefore treatment is aimed at eliminating these factors. If the urine has changed due to tumor processes, then the prognosis for treatment depends on the degree of malignancy of the formation and the timeliness of contacting a doctor.

Urine or urine is a waste product of the human body, which is formed in the kidneys from the blood through the processes of filtration and reabsorption. Urinalysis is of great value in the initial diagnosis of renal diseases. One of its indicators, determined in the laboratory, is color.

Normally, urine should be transparent and have a straw-yellow color, while its shade changes throughout the day depending on the amount of fluid consumed. This color of urine is due to the presence of various yellow pigments in its composition, mainly urochrome.

Dark urine or other changes in its color, unless they are associated with the use of certain medications or foods, are considered a sign of problems with the urinary system.

Causes of dark urine

A person who discovers changes in the usual color of urine begins to seriously worry about the state of his health and tries to find out why the urine has become dark in color. Darkening of urine may be temporary or may persist for a period of time. long period. In the latter case, there is indeed cause for concern, since most often this is associated with certain pathologies of the kidneys and other organs. Reasons for change in urine color dark side divided into natural and pathological.

Natural factors

Natural factors for darkening the color of urine include the following:

  • drinking small amounts of fluid;
  • increased physical activity;
  • heat;
  • taking certain medications;
  • eating certain foods.

In addition to the reasons given above, it should be taken into account that the color of urine changes throughout the day. Urine is usually darkest in the morning. The reason for this is its concentration during the night, when a person sleeps and does not drink liquid. The same thing occurs when consuming small amounts of fluid during the day or excessive sweating during sports training or in hot weather. All these changes are associated with an increase in the concentration of urochrome in excreted urine.

Foods that affect the color of urine include legumes, rhubarb, beets, beef, blueberries, carrots, etc. Changes in the color of urine to the dark side are often observed in people who constantly drink concentrated black tea and coffee. For these reasons, some time after dark urine appears, its color returns to normal if you stop consuming such foods.

Medicines that lead to darkening of urine include those that contain:

  • acetylsalicylic acid;
  • cephalosporins;
  • sulfonamides;
  • rifamycins;
  • riboflavin;
  • metronidazole;
  • nitrofuran derivatives;
  • ascorbic acid.

Important: After collecting a general urine analysis, it must be taken to the laboratory as soon as possible or placed in a dark place, since standing for a long time causes dark urine to form. The reason for such changes is the oxidation of bilirubinoids under the influence of light and atmospheric oxygen.

Pathological conditions

A change in the color of urine may indicate pathological processes occurring in the body. These include:

  • liver pathologies – hepatitis and cirrhosis;
  • diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts – cholelithiasis, cholestasis;
  • tumor processes in the liver, pancreas, kidneys, etc.;
  • hemolytic anemia;
  • kidney diseases –,;
  • infections urinary tract;
  • intoxication with copper salts;
  • metabolic disorders – porphyria, tyrosinemia, hemochromatosis;
  • dehydration.

When urine is released, it is dark yellow color The cause is most often urolithiasis, which results in an increased concentration of salts in the excreted fluid. If a green tint is observed, this indicates hepatitis. The dark yellow color of urine is also characteristic of a state of dehydration, infectious processes and congestion in the kidneys.

At urolithiasis urine may be cloudy and contain blood

The cause of which lies in pathologies of the liver or gall bladder, due to the high content of bile pigments in it - bilirubin and biliverdin. Such changes are associated primarily with disturbances in the outflow of bile.

Or the color of meat slop is observed when red blood cells enter it, which is typical for inflammatory diseases of the urinary system, hematuria and hemoglobinuria.

Important: If you detect changes in the normal color of urine that are not associated with natural factors, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Urine color during pregnancy

Change occurs for the same reasons as for ordinary people. However, in addition to this, there are other factors that are characteristic only of this condition. One of them is early toxicosis, in which pregnant women develop dehydration due to the loss of large amounts of fluid and nutrients through vomiting. Whenever severe toxicosis the woman needs to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Vitamins taken expectant mother may affect the color of urine

Advice: To avoid or minimize dark changes in urine color during pregnancy due to toxicosis, a woman needs to consume at least 2.5 liters of fluid per day.

Pregnant women greatly increase the load on the entire body, including the liver and kidneys. On later when the uterus reaches large sizes and begins to exert significant pressure on surrounding organs, women may experience stagnation of bile due to a violation of its outflow. This is accompanied by an increase in the content of the bile pigment bilirubin in the blood and urine, which gives the urine a dark yellow color. After childbirth, the condition usually normalizes on its own.

Also, during pregnancy, various kidney pathologies often occur, for example, gestational pyelonephritis. Its sign is an admixture of pus, mucus and the appearance of turbidity in the urine. In this case, the urine takes on a greenish tint. This condition requires immediate medical attention.
In general, if during pregnancy, a change in urine color is observed only for some time and is not accompanied by other symptoms, then there is no cause for concern.

What to do if dark colored urine is detected?

Dark urine is not always a reason to visit a doctor. Its color may be determined physiological characteristics body, taking certain medications and foods. In this case, the color of the urine returns to normal over time on its own. If the urine is dark in color, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, the presence of turbidity in it, as well as other pathological symptoms, then you need to contact a specialist. These symptoms include:

  • yellowness of the skin, mucous membranes and sclera;
  • increased body temperature;
  • headache;
  • skin itching;
  • general weakness;
  • pain in the lumbar region;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • painful frequent urination.

If any of these signs are detected, the doctor will prescribe tests and examination to determine the cause of the occurrence. dark urine and choosing methods to eliminate it. You should not ignore these symptoms or self-medicate. It can lead to the progression of the disease and the development of serious consequences for the body.

Normal urine color ranges from pale to bright yellow, as a result of the presence of a pigment called urochrome, the color also depends on whether the urine is concentrated or liquid.


The color of urine may not always be normal. Vitamins can change the color of urine to bright green, carrots can turn it orange. Porphyria is a disease that affects the skin and nervous system, it changes the color of urine to the color of wine.

Most changes in urine color are temporary and do not cause serious consequences and develop as a result of eating certain foods, dyes, or medications. Sometimes, however, changes in the color of urine may indicate the presence of an infection or other serious illness. Tell your doctor about changes in urine color that do not seem related to food or medications.

Symptoms of changes in urine color


The color of your urine changes depending on how much liquid you drink. The liquid contains yellow pigments, so the more you drink, the lighter your urine becomes. When you drink less, the color of your urine becomes more concentrated; severe dehydration can lead to amber-colored urine.

Sometimes urine may take on a color that is far from normal, such as red, green, blue, dark brown, and white.

Symptoms of urinary infections


Most color changes are not painful and go away without other symptoms. If the change in urine color is due to infection urinary tract, then you may see:

Strong, constant desire urinate
frequent urination
fever, chills, sweating
abdominal pain
strong odor of urine (normal urine should be odorless or have little or no odor)

When to see a doctor:

if you have visible blood in your urine
if you have a change in the color of your urine that is not related to food, medications, supplements or dyes.
if the color of your urine is dark brown, especially if your stool has become light, and the sclera of your eyes and skin are yellow, which indicates serious problems with your liver. In this case, you urgently need medical help.

Causes of urine color change

Urine consists of excess water and waste products that are filtered from your blood by your kidneys. The yellow color of urine is due to the presence of urochrome, a pigment that is produced during the breakdown of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells.

Discoloration of urine is often caused by medications, certain foods, and food colorings. For example, dyes used in small quantities in sweets can be found in the urine of children. In some cases, however, changes in urine color may be caused by health problems.
Conditions that can cause urine color to change:

Red or pink urine

Although this condition may be alarming, the appearance of red urine is not necessarily associated with serious problems. Causes of this condition include:

Blood. The presence of red blood cells is the main reason for the red color of urine. Usually the bleeding is not serious and occurs without associated symptoms. Factors that can cause blood in the urine, medically called hematuria, include urinary tract infections, enlarged prostate gland, kidney stones, or Bladder, kidney disease, sometimes kidney or bladder cancer.
Food. Beets, blackberries and rhubarb pie can make your urine red or pink.
Medications. Some herbal laxatives. Prescription drugs may have the same effect, including antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, thioridazine, the anesthetic propofol (Diprivan)
Toxins. Chronic lead and mercury toxicity can cause urine to turn red. This may be the result high level secretions of porphyrins, the same pigments that discolor the urine of people who have porphyria.

Orange urine color

Reasons that can cause orange urine

food products and supplements. Most often it is vitamin C and carrots, carrot juice. High amounts of carotene, the orange pigment in carrots and other vegetables, also changes the color of your soles and palms.
medications that can turn your urine orange: antibiotics (rifampicin), warfarin (coumadin), phenazopyridine (pyridine), some laxatives and chemotherapy drugs.
dehydration. Drinking too little fluid may result in concentrated urine containing urochrome.

Blue and green urine color

food. Asparagus can give urine a greenish tint and a characteristic odor.
medications. Many medications cause blue urine, including amitriptyline, methindole (indocin), Tagamet, the antiemetic drug phenegran, and some multivitamins. Dyes used in some pain medications (urised) can cause blue urine.
diseases. Familial hypercalcemia, a rare inherited disorder that causes high levels of calcium in the blood, is sometimes called "blue syndrome" because children with the condition have blue urine.

Urine that is dark brown or tea-colored

Food. Eating large amounts of beans, rhubarb, and aloe can cause dark brown color urine.
medicines. Many medications can make urine darker, including the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and primaquine, the antibiotic metronidazole, nitrofurantoin, which are used to treat urinary tract infections, laxatives containing cascara or sena, and metoclopramide.
medical problems. Liver dysfunction, especially hepatitis and cirrhosis, a rare hereditary disease - tyrosinemia, can cause dark brown urine. Also acute glomerulonephritis, a kidney disease in which the ability of the kidney to remove excess fluid and waste is impaired.

Cloudy or dark urine

Urinary tract infections or kidney stones can make your urine dark or cloudy.

Risk factors

Eating foods that can affect the color of urine, such as berries, asparagus, rhubarb, and taking certain medications, changes in urine color will not harm you. Your body’s reaction to these products depends on the amount of food and medications consumed, as well as on the characteristics of your metabolism.

Factors related to medical problems that may accompany changes in urine color:

age. Many men over 50 may have blood in their urine due to prostate cancer.
floor. More than half of women have a recurring urinary tract infection, which causes blood to appear in the urine. In men, the condition is likely to be associated with the presence of bladder stones or kidney stones.
recent infection. Inflammatory changes in the kidney after a bacterial or viral infection(post-infectious glomerulonephritis) is one of the common causes of blood in the urine in children.
family history. A family history of kidney disease increases the likelihood of these problems occurring in relatives. These conditions can cause the presence of blood in the urine. This is one of the leading causes of blood in the urine. Long-distance runners can often experience blood in their urine, as can anyone who does intense physical activity.

Preparing for your treatment

You will probably first contact your family doctor or doctor general practice. However, in some cases, you may want to initially see a doctor who specializes in urinary tract pathology (urologist).

Here is some information to help you prepare for your appointment with the Doctor:

You should be aware of any restrictions. When you go to the doctor, make sure you follow all the restrictions before diagnostic tests.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor:

What can you do:

Be informed of the necessary restrictions. Before visiting your doctor, learn how to prepare for possible diagnostic tests.
Write down any symptoms, including even those that may seem unrelated to the reason for your visit.
Make a list of key medical information, including any other conditions for which you are being treated and any medications, supplements, or vitamins you are taking.
Make a list of questions you want to ask your doctor. Bring paper and pen with you to write down the necessary information.

There are several basic questions that are commonly asked when urine color changes:

What are the possible causes of my symptoms?
What research do I need? Do these studies require any special preparation?
Are my symptoms temporary?
Will I need treatment?
What treatment methods are there?
Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I could take with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?

Urine color for kidney stones

You can also ask questions during the consultation if anything is unclear to you.

What will your doctor be interested in?


The doctor will probably ask you questions. Be prepared to answer them to leave more time for the points you want to discuss.

The doctor may ask:

What color is your urine?
Do you have blood in your urine or blood clots?
When did you first notice a change in the color of your urine?
Does this happen constantly or periodically?
Does your urine have unusual smell?
Do you have rapid or more infrequent urination?
Do you have pain when urinating?
What other symptoms do you have?
How has your appetite changed?
Are you feeling thirstier than usual?
Have you previously had problems with urination?
Do you have any allergies?
What medications do you take?

Research and diagnostics

In addition to your medical history and physical examination, your doctor may order additional tests, including:

Analysis of urine. A general urine test is the first step in the examination. With this examination, you can find an admixture of red blood cells, an increase in protein levels, which may indicate a violation of the excretion of metabolic products, which can lead to stone formation. Your urine is also tested for bacteria or infection.
blood analysis. It is prescribed to determine the level of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen - waste products that are in your bloodstream when kidney function is impaired. At this study Increased levels of liver enzymes and diabetes mellitus can also be detected.
other studies. You may have other tests depending on the results of your medical history, physical examination, urine test. The most common reason continuation of further research - the presence of red blood cells in the urine.

Treatment and medications

If urine color is abnormal, there is no specific treatment; your doctor will prescribe you treatment aimed at eliminating the cause.
Lifestyle and regime

When you are dehydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated and darker in color. If you notice this, you need to increase your fluid intake. Make sure you drink enough fluids every day to keep you healthy.
Prevention

Necessary to prevent changes in urine color caused by vitamin supplements, medicines, products.

To prevent diseases that can cause changes in urine color, you may need to do the following to reduce your risk.

Urinary tract infections

Measures to prevent urinary tract infections:

Drink more fluids
urinate when you feel the urge to urinate and immediately after sexual intercourse.
wiping after urination from front to back.

Kidney stones

Measures to prevent kidney stones:

Drink more fluids
Limit your intake of salt, protein, and foods such as spinach and rhubarb.

Kidney and bladder cancer


Measures to prevent kidney and bladder cancer
:

Quit smoking
avoid exposure to toxic chemical substances
drink more fluids
Maintain a normal weight, eat healthy foods, and exercise.

The color of urine is an indicator of the condition of the body; it can be used to judge whether the kidneys, liver, thyroid, reproductive system. Urine is a biochemical liquid containing breakdown products, some of them are urobilin, uroroserine - dyes that give natural color. The darker the shade, the higher the density of the urine.

Changes in the color of urine indicate health problems. This is a sign by which even at home one can draw a primary conclusion about pathologies. But only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis after a detailed examination.

Urine should be yellow healthy person, not bright and transparent. Lack of transparency may indicate an increased protein content - the main indicator of inflammation of the genitourinary system. Everyone needs to know what color it should be in order to identify and treat the pathology in time.

The color of urine is normally transparent. Such changes are caused by drinking a large amount of fluid and certain medications. But if after a while the shade remains the same, you should seek medical help. Perhaps this indicates diabetes mellitus and kidney pathologies.

The normal color of urine may be dark yellow. This happens if a person drinks little water and the amount of breakdown products is greater than liquid. But if the dark shades are persistent and do not change, it is recommended to undergo a full examination.

Also affects the color of urine:
  1. Food. Beets - red, citrus fruits and carrots - rich yellow, orange.
  2. Temperature, air humidity.
  3. Food colorings.
  4. Physical activity.
  5. Medicines.
Normal urine may change color due to the following drugs:
  1. Aspirin on pink.
  2. Rifampicin to brown or red.
  3. Metronidazole to brown or reddish.
  4. Triamterene on blue or green.
  5. Riboflavin on orange.
  6. Naphtolol, Salol on brown.

When you see your doctor, be sure to tell him about those medicines that you accept. Perhaps the frightening change in urine color is due to drug therapy.

You can tell by the color of your urine whether there are liver problems. Along with this biological fluid, bile, salts, and waste products are released, so a different shade is a reason to consult a doctor.

Properties by which liver disease is judged:
  • saturation;
  • shade;
  • presence of foam.
Changes in urine due to liver disease:
  1. Formation of white, yellowish flakes.
  2. The foam is uneven, yellow, and evaporates quickly.
How to find out which liver disease a person has by the type of urine:
  1. Red-brown color– the appearance of benign and malignant neoplasms.
  2. Brown tint – hepatitis of any type.
  3. A whitish tint is liver obesity (hepatosis).
  4. Dark brown, dark red color – jaundice, urolithiasis.

In order for the condition to normalize, the patient is recommended therapeutic diet, special drugs that help restore the liver.

Due to diabetes, the amount of chemicals in body fluid increases. The shade changes to bright yellow, saturated or transparent, light.

Ketones affecting the state of physiological fluid are a signal for the development of ketonuria, a condition in which death is possible.

The yellow tint changes to blue when rare pathology– hypercalcemia. It is characterized increased level calcium in the body. Usually the value in an adult exceeds 3 mol/l calcium.

It is most often called:
  • intoxication of the body with vitamin D;
  • consequences of a kidney transplant;
  • severe renal failure;
  • genetic predisposition.
In addition, other symptoms occur:
  • depression, apathy, irritability;
  • loss of strength, drowsiness;
  • increased urination;
  • weight loss;
  • stool disorder.

This phenomenon worries no more than 3% of the population. But people cannot change the color of urine from yellow to purple.

Green

Such changes can be caused both by the composition of the diet and dangerous pathologies. Therefore, it is worth remembering whether the day before you ate foods that give green color– asparagus, intoxicated beer, food coloring, medicine.

It is worth checking whether the changes are related to temporary, natural factors.

If not, this means that there are:
  • jaundice;
  • hypercalcemia;
  • infectious-inflammatory process in the urinary system;
  • urolithiasis disease.

If we talk about what the color of urine depends on, then this is an increase in the level of bilirubin, pathogenic microflora, and a large release of decay products.

If such a situation occurs alarming symptom It is advisable to undergo a full examination and consult a doctor. Incorrect diagnosis and treatment can lead to fatal consequences.

Colorless or white

What does the color of white urine mean is asked by everyone who has noticed this at least once in themselves. Sometimes the clarity of urine can be caused by too much fluid intake, which leads to overhydration. A seemingly harmless violation can provoke a deficiency of sodium, potassium, and salts in the body.

Other pathological causes:
  1. Glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis. Additional symptoms– pain in the lower back, oliguria, protein in the urine.
  2. Cystitis. This pathology more often contributes to changes in urine in women, due to their susceptibility to genitourinary infections.
  3. Stones, sand in the kidneys. The disease can be recognized by nausea, renal colic, false urge to urinate, and fluid retention.
  4. Replacement of functional kidney tissue with adipose tissue. In adults, urine changes color due to the precipitation of pus, residual fats, and phosphates.
  5. Polyuria. Frequent trips to the toilet with copious discharge provoke thirst and dehydration.
  6. Chronic renal failure. Dysfunctional kidney disorder, in which the filtration and excretory ability fades. Fluid retention with breakdown products triggers general intoxication of the body.

Such changes occur in adults early stages pathologies. A timely visit to the doctor will help to avoid complications and maintain health.

If you eat certain foods, a special red pigment is released. In medicine, this process is called bituria. It can be provoked by beets and blackberries. If after 48 hours the previous color returns, there is no cause for concern; most likely, vegetables, fruits, medications or food coloring are to blame.

In girls during menstruation, urine becomes pinkish or red due to discharge from a small amount blood.

Possible reasons:
  1. Stones, sand in the kidneys. The stones mechanically damage the urinary tract, and some blood is released from the wounds.
  2. Neoplasms in the genitourinary system.
  3. Cystitis.
  4. Anemia.
  5. Infectious lesions of the urinary tract.
  6. Physical exercise that caused the injury.
  7. Glomerulonephritis.
  8. Pyelonephritis.

In a man, red color in urine may appear due to prostate adenoma or oncology.

Every mother worries about what color her baby’s urine should be. After all, it is better to identify pathology earlier than to try to treat it in neglected form. It is worth considering that urinary components in the biochemical fluid change due to nutrition.

The color of urine in newborns in the second week is orange in boys and red in girls. Don't be afraid, it goes away in a week. The non-standard shade of discharge is caused by the restructuring of the body, the improvement of the functioning of organs. Up to a month, urine is generally clear or whitish. This especially happens if the mother regularly gives the child fish oil.

A brown or red tint at 2 months of life should alert you. This indicates diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, inflammation, and infectious kidney damage.

If the color of a baby's urine is dark yellow or brownish, this indicates a lack of water in the body. In most cases, this is caused by dyspepsia, an intestinal disorder.

Dark brown urine indicates a liver disorder - liver failure, inflammation, hepatitis, hepatosis.

If you notice green urine in your baby, you should immediately go to the doctor. The reason for this may be inflammation, infection of the urinary system, or a rare genetic pathology.

Normal consistency and color of urine is an indicator of the health of the whole body. Any changes should not be ignored, otherwise life-threatening complications may develop.

It is necessary to undergo diagnostics and if the results are satisfactory, then there is no need to worry, which means this is a type of normal.

Urine is one of the main human biological fluids. It is 95% water. The remaining 5% is occupied by substances dissolved in it. They form its shade, smell and composition. The color of urine is a mandatory parameter, which is determined during a general urine test. If its shade becomes abnormal, it means that errors in nutrition have been made, or some disease is developing.

Therefore, it is necessary to remember what the color of urine indicates and in what cases you need to urgently go to the doctor.

Regulatory characteristics

What color should urine normally be? The color of urine depends on many factors: diet, volume of fluid consumed, metabolic rate, and the presence of pathologies. The urine of a healthy person is transparent and has no strong smell. Its color normally varies from straw yellow to deep yellow.

The baby's urine is lighter. Within a few days after the baby is born, it becomes completely colorless. Sometimes the urine has a reddish tint, which is associated with an increased content of uric acids. This is not considered a pathology; the condition of the fluid returns to normal on its own after a couple of weeks.

The normal color of urine in women expecting the birth of a baby is yellow or dark brown. Moreover, it can change to initial terms often enough. This is due to the restructuring hormonal levels and does not pose a danger to mother or baby. It matters if the urine has acquired an unnatural shade, for example, red or green.

The characteristics of urine can only be determined from a sample taken immediately after waking up. 4 hours after collection, fermentation processes begin in morning urine, and it becomes unsuitable for research.

Non-hazardous reasons

The reasons for changes in urine color are not necessarily related to pathologies internal organs. The following factors influence the shade of the liquid:

  1. Consumption of certain foods. Urine takes on a rich reddish color if a person’s menu includes a lot of blackberries, carrots, beets, blueberries, beans, and cherries. Clarify the liquid in cucumbers and apples. Asparagus gives a bluish tint. Various drinks containing dyes, as well as beer, also have an effect.
  2. Dehydration of the body. People face this problem more often during the summer months. Due to the heat, the body sweats intensely and loses increased amount moisture. The end of this becomes dark color urine. As soon as the drinking regime is restored, the shade of the liquid becomes correct.
  3. Long-term use of medications. What the shade will be is determined by the medication itself. When taking an antibiotic of the tetracycline group, urine turns orange, Metronidazole turns red-brown, Naphthol turns brown.
  4. Long-term use of vitamin-mineral complexes. Sometimes such drugs turn urine an unnatural blue color.
  5. Changes also occur with age. In people over 50 years of age physical exercise urine takes on a red tint.

Such deviations are not dangerous to human life and health. It is enough to eliminate the provoking factor, and the color of the urine will return to normal.

Why does urine turn red?

One of the most dangerous symptoms considered a color change to red. This phenomenon occurs as a result of blood cells entering it. This is possible with the development of the following diseases:

  • Urolithiasis disease. As the disease progresses, the formed stones begin their movement through the urinary system. At the same time, they often injure the mucous surfaces of organs. Blood is released, which ends up in urine.
  • Kidney diseases: glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis. Their exacerbation increases the permeability of blood vessels and reduces the performance of organs. As a result, blood cells penetrate into the separated fluid.
  • Bladder oncology. It is difficult to say what color urine should be with such a disease. In the early stages, it does not differ from the norm and has a yellow tint. When destruction of the vessels supplying nutrients into the tumor, bleeding begins. The result is a light red coloration of the urine.
  • Cystitis is an inflammation localized in the bladder area. Pathogenic microflora gradually destroys the cells of the mucous surface of the organ, which provokes the release of blood. The problem is accompanied painful sensations with urination, itching, a sharp increase in the number of urges to visit the toilet during the day.
  • Porphyria. This genetic pathology is associated with impaired hemoglobin production. The kidneys remove porphyrin from the body, which becomes a precursor to hemoglobin. Because of this substance, red urine is detected.
  • Injuries of the pelvic organs. In this case, internal bleeding develops.
  • In men, the cause of the problem can be prostatitis. This disease is characterized by an inflammatory process localized in the prostate gland.
  • Red urine in women is more often a consequence of gynecological diseases: endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, cervical erosion. Blood cells enter urine from the organs of the reproductive system.

IN in rare cases Changes in the color of urine occur against the background of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and vasculitis. The development of these diseases provokes kidney damage. Because of this, blood cells end up in urine.

Orange urine

A healthy person's urine color may turn orange after eating citrus fruits, carrots or pumpkin. However, more often this symptom is accompanied by the following diseases:

  1. Neoplasms in the organs of the urinary system in an adult. The color of urine changes with both benign and malignant tumors. More often in such situations, surgical intervention is required.
  2. Nephrolithiasis. This pathology is accompanied by the formation of stones in the renal pelvis or calyces.
  3. In the third trimester of pregnancy, a changed color of urine can become a symptom of gestosis. This complication is accompanied by a significant increase in pressure and swelling. If adequate measures are not taken in time, there is a threat to the life of the mother and fetus.
  4. In an infant who is on breastfeeding The orange color of the biological fluid may indicate developing hepatitis A or other severe liver pathologies.
  5. Poisoning. In this case, a change in the color of urine is not the only symptom. Vomiting, attacks of nausea, and dyspeptic disorders are also observed.

Orange-colored urine is sometimes a result of dehydration. Due to lack of moisture, it becomes too concentrated, which is why it changes color.

If the orange tone of the urine appears simultaneously with the yellowing of the whites of the eyes, we can talk about progressive liver disease. In such a situation, it is better to urgently go medical examination and begin adequate treatment.

Green urine

Any specialist can tell you what normal urine should be like in a healthy person. From the natural yellow color are sometimes observed small deviations shade. If the urine turns green, this is a reason to be wary. The reasons for this phenomenon are as follows:

  • Lesions of the prostate, bladder or kidneys that are purulent in nature. Pathogenic microflora begins to actively multiply, which stimulates the production of pus. It can turn urine greenish. At the same time, the number of urinations per day increases sharply.
  • Various liver pathologies. They may be accompanied by skin rashes, severe itching, and a bitter taste in the mouth.
  • Cholecystitis. With this problem, the inflammatory process is concentrated in the gallbladder area. The cause of the disease is stagnation of bile in the organ cavity.
  • Prolonged diarrhea. More often it accompanies severe poisoning, infection with a viral or bacterial injection, or fungal infections.

Urine with a greenish tint is quite rare. If you notice such a symptom, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Brown urine

Urine becomes slightly darker when eating legumes, after taking medications, and other factors. A brown tint accompanies the following problems:

  1. Orchitis is an inflammatory process localized in the testicular area. The acute form of the disease is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, severe pain, affecting a person’s ability to work, as well as an increase in testicle size.
  2. Copper poisoning. This problem often occurs among people employed in industrial enterprises where this metal is used. The disease is accompanied clear signs intoxication: attacks of vomiting and nausea, increased body temperature, dyspeptic disorders. At the same time, normal yellow urine quickly acquires a rich dark brown color.
  3. Cirrhosis of the liver. The disease is associated with pathological changes in organ tissue, which are caused by impaired blood supply and dysfunction of the bile ducts. This problem becomes a consequence of incorrect or untimely treatment of hepatitis. This pathology often leads to human death. Therefore, if dark-colored urine is detected, it is necessary to undergo an examination immediately.
  4. Hemolytic anemia. The disease is associated with the predominance of the rate of death of red blood cells over the rate of their formation. It can be congenital or acquired. Accompanied painful sensations in the bones, impaired liver function, decreased hemoglobin concentration in the blood. Children experience an increase in body temperature. A dark shade of urine indicates the progression of the disease.
  5. Vasculitis. This is a lesion of the walls of blood vessels that is of an autoimmune nature. Because of this, there is a disruption in the full flow of blood to the internal organs. Doctors have not yet been able to establish the exact cause of this pathology. It is known that it can be a consequence of chronic infectious diseases, as well as oncology.
  6. Malignant tumors in the pancreas. On initial stages the problem does not manifest itself in any way, the urine does not change color. As the tumor grows, pain appears in the hypochondrium, loss of body weight, loss of ability to work, urine ceases to resemble straw in color and becomes dark. Increases the tendency to form blood clots.

The yellow color of urine in such diseases becomes frighteningly dark. The health condition does not return to normal without special treatment. Only a specialist can develop the right treatment strategy in such a situation.

Other possible pathologies

The reasons for the color change may lie in the development of other dangerous diseases:

  • Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease of autoimmune origin. It is accompanied by severe thirst, weight loss, and a general deterioration in well-being. The yellowish tint of urine becomes completely pale.
  • Chronic renal failure. Accompanied by serious loss of organ functionality. They are not able to fully filter liquid. There is a significant change in urine during such an illness. It takes on a pale yellow tint.
  • Renal lymphostasis. The problem is associated with the accumulation of lymph in the tissues. The most common cause of its development is inflammatory kidney disease. During this illness, the urine changes, it becomes white and begins to look like milk. This is the result of a large amount of lymph entering it.
  • Hypercalcemia. The disease is hereditary. It is associated with increased calcium concentration in the body. This becomes one of the reasons why urine takes on a bluish tint.
  • Viral hepatitis. With this pathology, gradual destruction of liver cells occurs under the influence of a viral infection. Bilirubinuria develops. Urine is distinguished by the presence of rich yellow foam in it.
  • Pyonephrosis is the formation of an abscess in the kidney area. Urine is observed, colored in three colors at once: a thick substance is visible on top white shade, the middle layer is milky, and salts and fats precipitate.
  • Hemoglobinuria. This concept includes several forms of hemolytic anemia, which occur with the penetration of hemoglobin into urine, as well as intravascular hemolysis of blood cells. The color of the urine may change to black.

For these deviations, complex long-term treatment is required. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the greater the chance of maintaining health.

What to do if urine color changes?

If the color of your urine has changed, do not panic right away. Perhaps this does not mean the development of the disease. You need to observe your own well-being for a couple of days. At the same time, try to drink as much fluid as possible and avoid products with coloring pigments. In a situation where the urine status has not returned to normal, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

The urologist will examine you and ask you about what medications you take on a regular basis. The medical history must be analyzed. Urine and blood tests are prescribed. With their help, it is possible to determine the presence of an inflammatory process and abnormalities in the functioning of the organs of the urinary system. During urine analysis, its color, consistency, presence of sediment and other characteristics are determined. Incorrect sample collection may affect test results. You need to urinate in the morning in a dry, clean container. It should be sent to the laboratory immediately. The most informative analysis is the analysis of the average portion of urine.

To make an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive examination is carried out. It includes ultrasound of the pelvic organs, computer or magnetic resonance imaging, urography and other techniques. Women should be examined by a gynecologist. Smears are taken from the urethra. It determines the presence of pathogenic microflora, which could cause the development of pathology. Based on the results of all studies, the specialist makes a conclusion about the presence of a certain disease.

Only after a full diagnosis does the doctor select adequate treatment. The main therapeutic method is taking medications. Drugs are selected based on the characteristics of the disease, health status and age of the patient. To treat diseases caused by exposure to pathogenic microflora, antibiotics will be required. Taking Nolitsin gives a good result in such a situation. If there is no proper therapeutic effect, the drug is changed to another. Physiotherapeutic treatment methods are used simultaneously with the use of medications. You will also need to follow a diet and give up bad habits.

If you urinated and saw that the urine has changed color, this is a reason to think about the state of your internal organs. This symptom is often accompanied by diseases that threaten a person’s life. The sooner diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the greater the chance of maintaining health.