Fortunately, the colour
of the urine can serve as a window that provides valuable information regarding
the functioning of the kidneys and body as a whole. Hence, any change noticed
in urine colour should never be ignored.
1. Straw yellow to amber
Generally, when your urine is pale yellow to amber coloured, it shows you are well hydrated and there is really nothing to worry about. However, dark shades of yellow such as deep yellow or brown/honey could be pointers to dehydration. More often than not, the urine colour normalises as you increase your fluid intake
Generally, when your urine is pale yellow to amber coloured, it shows you are well hydrated and there is really nothing to worry about. However, dark shades of yellow such as deep yellow or brown/honey could be pointers to dehydration. More often than not, the urine colour normalises as you increase your fluid intake
2. Transparent or
colourless
A transparent or colourless urine points to excessive dilution of urine due to overhydration, use of diuretics (drugs that enhance fluid loss from the body) or diabetes insipidus, a medical condition that occurs as a result of a failure of the posterior pituitary gland to secrete sufficient Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) or a failure of the kidneys to respond to the hormone leading to passage of copious quantities of overdiluted urine
A transparent or colourless urine points to excessive dilution of urine due to overhydration, use of diuretics (drugs that enhance fluid loss from the body) or diabetes insipidus, a medical condition that occurs as a result of a failure of the posterior pituitary gland to secrete sufficient Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) or a failure of the kidneys to respond to the hormone leading to passage of copious quantities of overdiluted urine
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3. Red or PinkRed bloody urine (haematuria) is often an alarm sign that usually warrants further expert evaluation because it usually points to problems along the urinary tract ranging from infections, stones and cancers to trauma.
4. Cloudy or milky urine
Passage of cloudy or milky urine often suggests a bacterial urinary tract infection especially when it is accompanied by a burning sensation during urination (dysuria) and/or frequency. The presence of lymphatic fluid in the urine (chyluria) can also give a similar picture.
Passage of cloudy or milky urine often suggests a bacterial urinary tract infection especially when it is accompanied by a burning sensation during urination (dysuria) and/or frequency. The presence of lymphatic fluid in the urine (chyluria) can also give a similar picture.
5. Blue or Green
This is a relatively rare urine colour that could be quite scary. It may be observed in individuals suffering from porphyria, a genetic enzymatic disorder due to a defect during the synthesis of red blood cell haemoglobin. However, artificial colours in foods or drugs as well as medications like methylene blue can also add such a strange colour to the urine. In rare instances, some unusual urinary tract infections can give rise to bluish or greenish urine.
This is a relatively rare urine colour that could be quite scary. It may be observed in individuals suffering from porphyria, a genetic enzymatic disorder due to a defect during the synthesis of red blood cell haemoglobin. However, artificial colours in foods or drugs as well as medications like methylene blue can also add such a strange colour to the urine. In rare instances, some unusual urinary tract infections can give rise to bluish or greenish urine.
6. Black
A black urine is mostly seen in alkaptonuria, a rare autosomal recessive disorder of tyrosine metabolism leading to accumulation of homogentisic acid in the blood which is then rapidly cleared by the kidneys through the urine. This accounts for the black discolouration of the urine in this condition.
A black urine is mostly seen in alkaptonuria, a rare autosomal recessive disorder of tyrosine metabolism leading to accumulation of homogentisic acid in the blood which is then rapidly cleared by the kidneys through the urine. This accounts for the black discolouration of the urine in this condition.
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7. OrangeOrange discoloration of the urine can occur after taking some medications like rifampicin and Pyridium. Rifampicin is a first-line anti-tuberculosis drug. In the same vein, consuming orange foods like carrots can add an orange tinge to the urine.
8. Dark Brown
When the urine colour is dark brown, it may be the result of an accumulation of conjugated bilirubin due to severe liver damage. A liver disorder should be suspected if dark brown urine is accompanied by yellowness of the sclera and skin (jaundice) or passage of pale stools. Furthermore, the urine may also appear brown on account of extreme dehydration or consumption of fava beans.
When the urine colour is dark brown, it may be the result of an accumulation of conjugated bilirubin due to severe liver damage. A liver disorder should be suspected if dark brown urine is accompanied by yellowness of the sclera and skin (jaundice) or passage of pale stools. Furthermore, the urine may also appear brown on account of extreme dehydration or consumption of fava beans.
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