- What can be dark urine
- 1. Dark urine with a strong smell
- 2. Dark urine and back pain
- 3. Dark urine and light stools
- 4. Dark urine with foam
- Dark urine in pregnancy
Dark or brown urine may be the result of ingesting some medications or food, as well as a symptom of an illness or a sign of dehydration.
When the urine gets dark while using a medication, one should consult the doctor who prescribed it to assess the possibility of it being a side effect and changing the medication, for example. However, brown urine can also happen when you drink little water during the day or eat foods like asparagus or carrots.
However, when the individual is not taking any medication and cannot identify any other possible cause for dark urine, it is advisable to perform a urine test, as it can be caused by diseases that need medical treatment. In addition, if the urine also smells strong, this can be a sign of urinary tract infection, diabetes or problems with kidney function. Learn more about what urine with a strong smell means.
What can be dark urine
The causes of dark urine may vary according to the symptoms presented. So some causes that normally require medical treatment include:
1. Dark urine with a strong smell
Dark urine with a strong smell, when associated with other symptoms such as pain when urinating or fever, for example, can indicate the presence of a urinary tract infection, especially if the urine turns reddish. However, dark urine with a strong smell can also be caused only by low water intake.
What to do: Increase the daily water intake and if the urine change continues for more than 2 days, consult a doctor or urologist to start the appropriate treatment. In case of persistent fever and pain, one should avoid taking medication without the doctor's recommendation, because one may be masking the problem.
2. Dark urine and back pain
One of the main causes of dark urine with back pain is the presence of kidney stones, especially when the pain is located in the back and worsens when urinating.
What to do: You should go immediately to the emergency room if the pain is very severe or if the color change continues for more than 24 hours associated with back pain.
3. Dark urine and light stools
Dark urine associated with light stools is a frequent symptom in patients with liver problems, as the body is unable to properly digest fat, causing very white stools and darkening the urine due to the accumulation of bilirubin, another substance produced by the liver.
What to do: It is recommended to consult a clinician or a hepatologist to assess whether there are any liver problems and to initiate appropriate treatment.
Check out what are the symptoms of hepatitis.
4. Dark urine with foam
Dark foamy urine is usually caused by the presence of proteins, so it can be a sign of kidney problems or high blood pressure. See other causes at: Foamy urine.
What to do: A urologist should be consulted if the problem persists for more than 3 days, who will request tests, to identify the cause and start the appropriate treatment.
Dark urine in pregnancy
The main cause of dark urine in pregnancy is dehydration caused by low water intake during the day, which can be aggravated during periods of more vomiting, for example. Therefore, it is recommended to increase your water intake during the day and see if your urine becomes clearer.
If the urine remains dark, even after increasing the water intake, it is recommended to consult the obstetrician as soon as possible, as it may indicate some health problems such as urinary tract infection, high blood pressure or liver problems, and it is necessary to start the appropriate treatment. See what can change the color of urine.
