Urinary Tract Infection Pee Color

How Urine Color Can Show If You Have An Infection

Urine color is a factor that many of us flush away without a second thought, but it can actually be a very important indicator of your urinary health. While normal, healthy urine will vary in shade, changes in color should be noted and in some instances reported to your urologist.

Healthy urine can vary all the way from almost clear to a golden color, although if your urine is always a strong yellow you are very likely dehydrated and should drink more water. Completely clear urine can also be caused by some medications, but it is not the color to aim for when trying to find your ideal hydration level. A pale yellow is generally considered ideal by most urologists.

Colors for concern are shades of amber, pink, red, orange, blue, green, brown or black. Ambers and oranges are often signs of severe dehydration, severe enough that sometimes drinking water isnt enough. Blues, greens and occasionally brighter oranges are most likely caused by medications, but if you arent taking any at the moment you should contact your urologist immediately because they can be signs of rare conditions.

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Before Taking This Medicine

You should not use phenazopyridine if you are allergic to it, or if you have kidney disease.

To make sure phenazopyridine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

FDA pregnancy category B. Phenazopyridine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Do not use phenazopyridine without a doctor’s advice if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether phenazopyridine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor’s advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Can I Become Immune To The Antibiotics Used To Treat A Uti

Your body can actually get used to the antibiotics typically used to treat a urinary tract infection . This happens in people who have very frequent infections. With each UTI and use of antibiotics to treat it, the infection adapts and becomes harder to fight. This is called an antibiotic-resistant infection. Because of this, your healthcare provider may suggest alternative treatments if you have frequent UTIs. These could include:

• Waiting: Your provider may suggest that you watch your symptoms and wait. During this time, you may be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids in an effort to flush out your system.
• Intravenous treatment: In some very complicated cases, where the UTI is resistant to antibiotics or the infection has moved to your kidneys, you may need to be treated in the hospital. The medicine will be given to you directly in your vein . Once youre home, you will be prescribed antibiotics for a period of time to fully get rid of the infection.

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Foamy Fizzy Or Cloudy Urine

If you have excessive bubbles or cloudy urine, this may suggest protein in the urine. Contact a urologist immediately, as this may be an early sign of kidney disease. A urology specialist will perform a urinalysis to check for protein in the urine sample. Other serious health conditions that accompany cloudy urine with foam or bubbles include Crohn’s Disease and diverticulitis.

What To Expect At Your Office Visit

The provider will perform a physical exam. This may include a rectal or pelvic exam. The provider will ask you questions about your symptoms such as:

• When did you first notice a change in urine color and how long have you had the problem?
• What color is your urine and does the color change during the day? Do you see blood in the urine?
• Are there things that make the problem worse?
• What types of foods have you been eating and what medicines do you take?
• Have you had urinary or kidney problems in the past?
• Are you having any other symptoms ?
• Is there a family history of kidney or bladder cancers?
• Do you smoke or are you exposed to significant second hand tobacco?
• Do you work with certain chemicals such as dyes?

Tests that may be done include:

• Male urinary tract

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What To Do About Red Urine

When you have bleeding in urine and are not certain why, see a doctor who can do an analysis of the urine and guide you to see a specialist, she says.

Dont panic, she says. There are times it is nothing and goes away on its own, says Dr. Clifton.

Also, you may want to double-check the source of the blood. Are you sure it is really coming from your urethra?

What About The Consistency

“An occasional milky or cloudy appearance of urine can be normalespecially in the morning when you may be slightly dehydrated,” Goel says. If it’s persistent, though, it might be a sign of a urinary tract infection. While there’s mixed research about whether or not cloudy urine is a sign of a UTI1, seeing a doctor or a urologist to rule out bacterial infections is a good idea. “If you have a history of stone disease, crystals may also appear in urine, making it cloudy,” Simma-Chiang adds.

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What About Dark Red Urine

It doesnt have to be bright red blood either.

Darker colored red may be old blood that has been in the urinary tract a little bit longer, Dr. Clifton says.

Your urine may also turn dark brown if you eat a large portion of fava beans, rhubarb, or aloe, she says. Some medications, including antimalarial drugs and some antibiotics, can cause cola-colored urine.

Sometimes extreme exercise can cause cola-colored urine, too, because it triggers the breakdown of muscles known as rhabdomyolysis.

This condition, sometimes shortened to rhabdo, can also be caused by crush or traumatic injuries drug use, such as cocaine or methamphetamines heat exposure or taking supplements like creatine or ephedra.

When this happens, myoglobin releases and excretes into your urine, Dr. Clifton explains. This can damage your heart or kidneys and the condition can be potentially life threatening.

Uti Symptoms And Urine

Under normal circumstances, your body produces urine that is clear or straw-yellow. When you have a UTI, you may notice cloudy urine with traces of blood.2 You may even experience feeling the strong urge to go even when your bladder isnt full, an increase in frequency and a foul smell. In many cases, UTI symptoms include a burning sensation when you pee with pelvic pain.2

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What Does It Look Like

If you have pneumaturia, youll feel gas or a bubbling sensation interrupting your urine stream. Your urine may appear to be full of small air bubbles. This is different than urine that looks foamy, which is usually an indicator of too much protein in your urine.

Since pneumaturia is a symptom of other conditions and not a condition all by itself, you may want to look out for other symptoms that sometimes come along with it, such as:

• burning sensation while urinating

Is Foaming Pee Bad

Before we talk about foam in your urine, it’s important to know the difference between bubbles and foam. While it may seem like both are the same thing, North Western Medicine reports that it’s not.

Bubbles are clear, big, and they can be flushed easily. On the other hand, foam doesn’t flush. It tends to be more sticky and is more obvious.

So, is foam in your pee bad? It’s not a good sign, and means you should schedule an appointment. It’s typically caused by protein in your urine, which should have been filtered out by your kidneys.

The most likely culprits are lupus or diabetes, but there are other causes. We don’t know for sure what the cause is until we do some tests, so the sooner you come in, the sooner we’ll have answers.

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What Causes Urine To Be Cloudy

Cloudy urine can be an indication of a variety of medical conditions:

Dehydration Cloudy urine can indicate that you are not getting enough water and other fluids.

Urinary Tract Infection Blood, pus, or excess white blood cells can cause cloudy or milky urine and can indicate that you have a urinary tract infection.

Sexually Transmitted Infections STIs can produce an excess of white blood cells, which can cause cloudy urine.

Kidney Stones High levels of minerals in urine can cause cloudiness and be a sign of kidney stones.

Diabetes Cloudy urine can indicate that uncontrolled diabetes has damaged the kidneys.

Prostate Issues An inflamed or infected prostate can lead to an increase in the amount of white blood cells or other discharge, which can cloud urine.

Vaginitis A vaginal infection can increase the number of white blood cells released in urine and cause cloudiness.

What About Foods That Change Urine Color

Certain foods can change urine color, too. Usually this is a temporary change in color that normalizes after 12 to 24 hours. Here are some foods that can change urine color:

• Carrots can tint urine orange.

• Red foods, like beets or blackberries, can turn urine pink or red.

• Rhubarb, asparagus, and fava beans can turn urine brown.

• Foods rich in vitamin B can color urine bright yellow or green.

• Any foods that have artificial food dyes can change the color of urine.

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Who Experiences Changes In Urine

Anyone can experience changes in urine. It is more frequently seen in adult women, since a change in urine is a common symptom of urinary tract infections. Women more frequently experience these infections. Older adults and adults with a family history of kidney or bladder stones are also more prone to experience changes in urine.

Proteinuria: What Does Protein In The Urine Mean And How Is It Tested

Proteins serve many functions in the body, but when proteins escape into urine, it can be a sign of potential kidney problems.

Its normal to have a small amount of protein in your urine, and temporarily higher levels can be caused by exercise, dehydration, stress, fever, or cold temperatures.

If high levels of protein are detected multiple times, you may have kidney disease. People with diabetes and hypertension have a higher risk of developing kidney disease, so their urine may be analyzed regularly via urinalysis.

Protein in urine can also be a sign of preeclampsia in pregnant women.

If kidney disease is caused by hypertension or diabetes, treatment will involve getting these medical conditions controlled and monitored. Treatment may also include lifestyle changes and prescription medication, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers .

Learn More About Proteinuria

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How Should I Take Phenazopyridine

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take phenazopyridine after meals.

Drink plenty of liquids while you are taking phenazopyridine.

Phenazopyridine will most likely darken the color of your urine to an orange or red color. This is a normal effect and is not harmful. Darkened urine may also cause stains to your underwear that may be permanent.

Phenazopyridine can also permanently stain soft contact lenses, and you should not wear them while taking this medicine.

Do not use phenazopyridine for longer than 2 days unless your doctor has told you to.

This medication can cause unusual results with urine tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using phenazopyridine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

How Common Are Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are very common, occurring in 1 out of 5 women sometime in their lifetime. Though UTIs are common in women, they can also happen to men, older adults and children. One to 2% of children develop urinary tract infections. Each year, 8 million to 10 million visits to doctors are for urinary tract infections.

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What Is The Urinary Tract

The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body’s liquid waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:

• Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body removing waste and water from your blood. This waste becomes urine.
• Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
• Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine before it leaves the body.
• Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.

How Is A Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosed

Urinalysis is a urine test that can be used to detect infection or bleeding . The sample is cultured to determine the type of bacteria or other pathogen that is causing the infection. A culture can also help identify the best antibiotic to treat the infection. In the case of recurrent UTIs, additional testing may be ordered by the doctor. Imaging tests and/or a cystoscopy may be necessary. A cystoscope is an instrument that can be advanced into the urethra and bladder to visualize the areas. UTI diagnostic test strips are also available for home use.

• American Society of Nephrology: “Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly Persons.”
• Medscape: “Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection.”

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Key Points About Urinary Tract Infections

• Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. These infections can affect any part of the urinary tract.
• Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
• The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad back or side pain nausea/vomiting and fever.
• Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Other treatments may include pain relievers, and drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract.
• Other things that can be done may help reduce the likelihood of developing UTIs.

Where Is Marijuana Legal In The United States

How long stays in your urine will depend upon your use habits. Most drug tests measure the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. If you use infrequently, a urine drug test can detect THC as long as 10 days after use. Weed can stay in your system for two to four weeks if you use frequently and as long as a month if you use very frequently.

People sometimes use synthetic urine to try to pass a urine drug test. This can carry significant consequences, as many states have made it illegal to sell or use synthetic urine to cheat on a drug test.

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How Does Your Urine Change When Youre Pregnant

Urine changes throughout pregnancy, and monitoring your urine can help your doctor ensure both you and your baby are healthy.

A urine test can detect pregnancy around two weeks after conception by measuring increased levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin .

Urinating more frequently can also be an early sign of pregnancy and will occur throughout the first trimester. Frequent urination returns during the third trimester when the growing fetus and uterus put increased pressure on the bladder.

Pregnant women also need to drink more water, so dark and more-concentrated urine can be a sign of dehydration. Pregnant women are also at increased risk of developing urinary tract infections, which can cause cloudy urine and blood in the urine. UTIs carry increased risks to the mother and fetus during pregnancy, so its important to get the infection treated as soon as possible.

A urinary infection can also be a sign of group B streptococcus, a bacterium that can spread to a baby during delivery and cause complications. Women are typically tested for GBS during their third trimester.

Your doctor may conduct several urinalyses throughout pregnancy to test or monitor for conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.

How Do I Know If My Dog Has Urinary Tract Infection

Dogs with UTIs generally attempt to urinate very frequently whenever they go outside. They also may strain to urinate, or cry out or whine when urinating if it is painful. Sometimes you might even see blood in their urine. Dripping urine, or frequent licking of the genitals, may also signal that a UTI is present.

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Food Drink Or Medication

Some foods and drinks can cause a change in the color or smell of urine.

Beets and blackberries can turn the urine red and eating rhubarb can result in a dark brown or tea-like color.

Some medications can also cause changes in urine color:

• Senna, chlorpromazine, and thioridazine can result in red urine.
• Rifampin, warfarin, and phenazopyridine can result in orange urine.
• Amitriptyline, indomethacin, cimetidine, and promethazine can result in blue or green urine.
• Chloroquine, primaquine, metronidazole, and nitrofurantoin can result in dark brown or tea-colored urine.

Red blood cells develop in the bone marrow. The body usually destroys old or faulty red blood cells in the spleen in a process called hemolysis.

When the body mistakenly destroys too many red blood cells, a person might develop hemolytic anemia.

Genetic blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia, can also lead to hemolytic anemia. It is also a potential side effect of some medicines and can sometimes occur after blood transfusions.

In addition to dark urine, symptoms of hemolytic anemia include:

Urinary tract infections happen when bacteria get into the bladder, usually through the urethra. Women tend to develop UTIs more often than men, and many people know them as bladder infections or cystitis.

Symptoms of a UTI include:

• pain or burning while urinating
• pain or pressure in the abdomen
• frequent urges to urinate