The color of urine may change due to ingestion of certain foods or medications and, therefore, in most cases, this is not a warning sign.
However, color change may also indicate certain health problems, such as urinary tract infection, kidney stones, or liver inflammation, which may be accompanied by other symptoms such as strong-smelling urine, burning or abdominal pain, for example. Example. See what can make urine dark and strong.
- If the color of the urine remains altered for more than 3 days.
- It is recommended to consult the family doctor.
- Urologist or gynecologist to evaluate any signs and symptoms that the person presents.
- In addition to recommend urine testing to identify the cause of the color change.
Dark yellow urine is one of the most common changes and is usually a sign of dehydration, due to low water consumption. However, when dark urine remains for a long time, this can be a sign of liver problems that cause a buildup of bilirubin, leaving urine almost brown.
What to do: In these cases, it is recommended to increase your daily water intake and, if you stay longer than 3 days, it is important to consult a family doctor.
Orange urine can occur due to overfeeding of foods rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots, papayas or pumpkin, or medications such as phenazopydine or rifampicin. In addition, orange may also occur in the case of diseases of the liver and bile ducts, especially when accompanied by white or clear stools. Dehydration can also cause urine to turn orange.
What to do: Avoid overeating foods high in beta-carotene. However, if the change continues or if you are being treated with the remedies listed above, it is recommended that you consult your family doctor to start appropriate treatment. See a more complete list of foods to avoid.
Red or pink coloration is usually due to the presence of blood in the urine and can therefore be a sign of urinary tract infection, kidney stones or kidney problems, prostate growth, tumors, kidney cyst or in people who walk or run a lot and may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as pain when urinating or fever.
However, red may also be caused by eating reddish foods such as beetroot or red products. Find out when there’s actually blood in your urine and what to do.
Some medications may also cause urine to turn red or pink, such as rifampicin and phenazopyridine.
What to do: If you have ingested red foods, avoid eating them to assess whether urine is returning to normal. In other cases, it is recommended that you consult a family doctor to diagnose the problem and initiate appropriate treatment.
If it is caused by medication use, it is advisable to inform the doctor who prescribed the medication to evaluate the possibility of change of medication.
Violet urine is an alteration that only occurs in some patients with bladder tube due to the transformation of certain pigments by bacteria present in the tube of the tube. Find out how to prevent this change and properly maintain the probe.
There is also a rare condition called purple urinary sac syndrome, which is more common in older women who have a permanent or long-lasting bladder tube, for example.
What to do: In these cases, it is recommended to consult your family doctor or urologist as it may be necessary to start antibiotic treatment.
Blue urine is usually caused by blue dyes or by the use of contrast with methylene blue, which is widely used in CT scans, liver surgery, such as CPRE, or medications such as Sepurin, for example.
In addition, it can be caused by other remedies, such as amitriptyline, indomethacin and sildenafil, marketed as Viagra.
What to do: This is a normal change in urine that usually disappears within 24 hours of using the contrast product.
Green urine is not a serious disease, it is mainly caused by food consumption, artificial dyes, medications, such as amitriptyline, or by the use of contrast in some diagnostic tests. Learn more about the causes of green urine.
Some infections, such as those caused by Pseudomonas, and the presence of a bladder fistula in the intestine, in which bile is released, can also cause urine to turn green.
What to do: Remove very green foods or products that may contain food dyes. However, if the problem persists for more than 2 days, it is advisable to go to the family doctor to identify the problem and start appropriate treatment.
Brown urine, or very dark urine, is usually a sign of severe dehydration, however, it can also indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, for example. In addition, certain medications such as methyldopa or argirol may darken urine. Check when dark urine can be severe.
Similarly, excess food can also darken urine, such as beans
What to do: In these cases, it is recommended to increase water consumption and, if the change persists, consult a urologist or family doctor to identify the cause of the problem and initiate appropriate treatment.
If it is caused by food or medication, it is advisable to consult your doctor to modify the treatment or nutritionist to make a change in the diet.
White urine, also known as albuminuria, can be caused by the presence of a severe urinary tract infection, usually accompanied by burns when urinating and fever. In addition, whitish urine can also be caused by a lymphatic fistula that occurs in cases of neoplasm or abdominal trauma.
What to do: It is advisable to consult a family doctor for a urine test and identify the problem to start appropriate treatment.