A change in urine color can be distressing for patients and physicians alike. Many of the causes of abnormal urine color are the benign effects of medications and foods; however, a change in urine color may be a sign of an underlying pathological condition.
The good news is that, in many cases, the diagnosis can be determined from a complete history and urinalysis.
Although our bladder usually expels a liquid that oscillates between yellow and light amber -more or less intense depending on the concentration and acidity-, its chromaticism varies when certain circumstances occur. For example, urine looks almost transparent if we have drunk a lot of liquid, and dark amber when we become dehydrated from fevers or burns. Carrot carotene and B vitamins stain it orange. If it is cloudy and milky in color, it contains mucus, white blood cells, bacteria or red blood cells, usually caused by an infection.
On the other hand, the consumption of beets, blackberries and certain medications give the pee a pink, reddish or brown color, although the latter can also warn that we are suffering from hemophilic anemia, a lesion in the kidneys or porphyria. Other diseases alter its color: greenish yellow suggests diabetes and dark brown indicates acute viral hepatitis or cirrhosis, which generates excess bilirubin. This same molecule can turn urine blue-green, as can the use of artificial colors in food or drugs we eat. And green is indicative of a Pseudomonas bacilli infection.
A urine test can detect if there is blood in the urine. This test looks at a sample of pee for different cells, chemicals, and other substances, including blood. Most causes of blood in urine are not serious, but sometimes red or white blood cells in urine can mean that you have a medical condition that needs treatment, such as kidney disease, urinary tract infection, or liver disease.
Urinalysis is not only used to detect blood in the urine. This test may also be necessary if blood has been seen in the urine or other symptoms are present that could indicate a urinary disorder, such as painful urination, frequent urination, back pain and abdominal pain.
