Change in urine color: orange urine - causes

A change in the color of biological fluid will definitely alarm every person. If he notices that he has orange urine when he defecates, it is recommended that he go to a urologist for an appointment, who will schedule tests. Only an experienced doctor, after conducting a thorough diagnosis, will be able to determine the true cause of the change in urine color.

There are many provoking factors that cause orange urine in women, men and children. They may indicate the progression of various pathological processes in the body, or they may not pose any danger. In the latter case, the biological fluid will have this shade for a short period of time.

Why does urine turn orange?

The properties of physiological fluid change in both sick and healthy people. Therefore, a change in color does not always indicate the presence of a disease.

The color of the liquid is due to the presence of pigment components in the composition. They also affect the consistency, presence of sediment and other properties of urine. Most often, orange urine is observed in the morning. This process is considered normal, since a large amount of coloring pigments accumulates in the liquid overnight.

It is important to note that the color of urine is also determined by the quantity of urine. If the volume of liquid released is insignificant, then the pigments accumulating in it will give a more saturated color.

In such cases, it can be not only orange, but also dark. If during the day a person regularly visits the toilet and more than 2 liters of fluid are removed from the bladder, then the urine becomes light, sometimes transparent.

The effect of dehydration on the color of discharge

In some cases, the loss of fluid by the body, for example, with diarrhea, repeated vomiting or intense sweating, is not compensated by drinking clean water. A condition called dehydration or dehydration occurs. Daily excretion of more than 2 liters of urine is called polyuria. The urine has virtually no color. If the amount of excrement does not exceed ½ liter, we are talking about oliguria. In this case, the discharge takes on an intense orange tint.

The urine of a well-hydrated person is pale yellow or just yellow in color. The appearance of a brighter color indicates a condition close to dehydration.

Natural causes

For some people, orange urine is the physiological norm. In such patients, the fluid is constantly orange due to the individual characteristics of the body. In such cases, pathology is indicated if the liquid begins to lighten or becomes transparent. Otherwise, the orange color is not a symptom of any pathology.

There are also natural causes of urine turning orange:

• Lack of fluid in the body and dehydration
• Prolonged urinary retention
• Drinking alcoholic beverages
• Consumption of foods containing dyes
• Taking certain groups of medications

Such disorders do not require special therapy. When the provoking factor is eliminated, the orange color of the urine will change to natural without negative consequences for the body.

Specialist appointments

Based on the results obtained, the doctor can assess the patient’s health status. Only he is able to explain the reason for the appearance of orange urine and say whether we are talking about ordinary physiological processes that fit within the norm, or about a pathology that requires medical correction. If there are complaints from the patient, the specialist’s task is simplified.

In case of dehydration, the doctor prescribes oral rehydration agents (restoring the original volume of fluid), for example, Regidron. They should be taken until the electrolyte balance is normalized, as evidenced by the normal color of the urine.

If bright color is a symptom of an infectious-inflammatory disease of the bladder and kidneys, then it is recommended to take antibacterial agents and NSAIDs. As an auxiliary treatment, the use of herbal decoctions is indicated, which improve organ functions and increase the volume of urine excreted.

Pathological processes

Orange color of urine is often a sign of disease. However, this phenomenon occurs rarely as an independent symptom. As a rule, against the background of illness, the patient experiences not only a change in the properties of the secreted fluid, but also a number of accompanying symptoms. Possible diseases accompanied by this symptom are described in Table 1.

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Orange-colored urine may indicate numerous diseases, but to confirm a pathological origin, it is necessary to identify associated symptoms.

Video about urine color change:

Additional manifestations that indicate pathology

Diseases in which the urine turns orange are rarely asymptomatic. Therefore, patients whose properties of the secreted fluid have changed may also experience a number of associated symptoms.

These include:

• Redness of the external genitalia
• Increased frequency or retention of urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain when urinating
• Itching and burning in the genital area
• Weakness
• Nausea with vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Heat

As for urine, in addition to color, other characteristics may change. Against the background of diseases, there is often an unpleasant odor when urinating. The patient may also notice blood in the urine.

The presence of the described symptoms is a direct indication for visiting a urologist. It is important to remember that treatment should begin as early as possible to prevent complications from developing.

What other symptoms should you pay attention to?

If the urine is orange, then other characteristics of the material should be assessed:

• Transparency. Cloudiness occurs when there is excess mucus.
• Presence of sediment. You need to let the urine “settle” for a while, and then carry out an assessment. In a healthy person, no precipitate forms.
• Smell. An unpleasant smell of urine occurs with inflammation of the urinary tract or with sexually transmitted diseases.

Changes in the characteristics of the fluid and signs such as lower back pain, swelling, itching are reasons to take a test for laboratory testing.

Orange urine should not be ignored if the color changes persist for a long time and are not associated with medications or coloring products. Some diseases can be asymptomatic for a long time, and the only sign will be a change in the color indicator.

Abnormal urine color in children

Normally, the baby's physiological fluid is clear or yellow. Orange color can occur for various reasons, most often natural. The child's body is more sensitive, which is reflected in deviations in the functioning of the excretory system. Therefore, you should only worry if pathological processes are observed along with changes in the child’s urine.

Most often, orange urine is a consequence of a change in diet. And we’re not just talking about eating junk food or products that contain dyes. At the age of 1 year and older, the child gradually transitions from breastfeeding to solid foods. The appearance of completely new, previously unused foods in the diet can cause changes in the color of urine and disorders of the digestive system.

Coloring foods and drinks

Orange color of urine may appear due to the consumption of large quantities of certain foods:

Dark orange urine appears after drinking red or yellow carbonated drinks, chips, crackers and other snacks. This change occurs due to the removal of artificial dyes from the body.

Some preservatives and flavor enhancers added to prepared foods can color urine.

Children at 2-3 years old are given carrot or pumpkin juice to provide the child’s body with vitamins. Orange urine is a natural result of such supplements.

This is not dangerous to health, but you should still slightly reduce the amount of food. The bright orange hue of the fruit indicates its ability to cause allergies.

Women's problems

The most common cause of orange colored urine in women is cystitis.

This disease most often occurs in women, which is explained by the structure of the excretory system. The organs of the genitourinary system in women are more sensitive to infections and other unfavorable factors, which is why diseases occur more often than in men.

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In addition, the following reasons can cause the symptom:

• Hormonal imbalances occurring in the body
• Taking medications
• Urolithiasis disease
• Pyelonephritis
• Oncological neoplasms
• Liver pathologies

It is impossible to determine the exact cause of the ongoing change without a comprehensive examination. Therefore, to eliminate the risk of pathologies, it is necessary to undergo diagnostic procedures.

What you need to know about physiology

Brightly colored urine is most often observed in humans in the morning. This is due to reasons that are quite understandable. The color of urine directly depends on the substances dissolved in it. During night rest, the production of antidiuretic hormone increases, which leads to a fairly long break between urination and an increase in the concentration of urine. In particular, under the influence of the hormone, the amount of urobilinogen increases, which gives the urine a bright yellow or rich orange color.

Orange urine in pregnant women

During pregnancy, women's frequency of urination increases. Therefore, a large amount of fluid is removed from the body and dehydration may occur. This deviation causes a change in the color of the urine, causing it to turn orange. This process is aggravated by severe toxicosis, which manifests itself in some women in the early stages.

At a later stage, orange urine may indicate the development of gestosis. This is a dangerous process that increases the risk of complications and miscarriage. In addition to changes in the color of physiological fluid, women experience swelling, urination becomes rare and scanty. In the presence of gestosis, patients are subject to hospitalization and constant medical supervision.

In what cases should you visit a doctor?

A change in the color characteristics of urinary fluid is not in itself dangerous. However, such a manifestation may indicate a pathological process occurring in the body that requires urgent medical intervention.

You should seek help for the following symptoms:

• Sharp, prolonged pain in the lower abdomen
• Nausea, vomiting
• Blood in urine
• Discharge with a strong odor in women
• General malaise

It is also recommended to visit a urologist if the color of urine has not returned to normal over a long period of time. The examination will determine the exact cause of the deviation and eliminate it.

Diagnostic methods

First of all, patients are prescribed a urine test. With its help, the composition of the liquid is determined and the reasons why the color change occurs are identified. The consistency, volume of liquid, presence of sediment and its nature are taken into account.

Additional examination methods include:

• Blood tests (general, biochemical)
• Coprogram
• Ultrasound of the genitourinary organs and abdominal cavity
• Analysis of bile pigments
• Needle biopsy (if pathological neoplasms are detected)

A set of diagnostic procedures is prescribed individually, depending on the specifics of the clinical picture.

Features of treatment

There are no special methods aimed directly at normalizing the color of urine. To restore the natural properties of the liquid, it is necessary to eliminate the factors causing the color change. In this case, the nature of the treatment will depend on the identified pathology or disorder.

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During therapy, the patient should exclude from the diet foods that can stain urine. Such products include pumpkin, carrots, rose hips, persimmons, and sea buckthorn. Foods enriched with ascorbic acid can provoke discoloration.

Medicines are prescribed based on the causes of the disease. For infectious pathologies, antibacterial therapy is prescribed, aimed at suppressing harmful microflora. This method is effective for pyelonephritis, cystitis, and urethritis.

Urolithiasis is treated mainly surgically. Drug therapy rarely leads to a positive result, and sometimes can cause complications in the form of blockage of the excretory ducts.

Oncological pathologies are treated using traditional methods of anticancer therapy, which include radiation and chemotherapy, and surgical resection. Therapy is carried out in a hospital setting.

During treatment, the patient is not recommended to consume alcohol, fatty and difficult-to-digest foods, which provoke increased secretion of bile. You should also limit physical activity and use medications with diuretic effects.

With outpatient treatment, the patient must regularly visit the doctor. This is required to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic measures, adjust dosages and medication regimens.

Treatment of diseases accompanied by urine staining is a complex process that involves adjusting the diet, taking medications, and giving up bad habits.

Video about pathologies indicated by the color of urine:

Physiological factors

Morning urine is more saturated in color due to an increase in antidiuretic hormone.
This substance is produced during sleep and delays urine production. That's why people usually don't get up to go to the toilet at night. The baby's urine may be orange for 5-6 days after birth. This is due to the fact that uric acid and urate crystals are released in the urine of a newborn. If the baby is fed with mother's milk or a selected formula, then the urine gradually acquires a straw color.

Darkening of urine does not always indicate pathological processes. A change in its characteristics may be caused by the following reasons:

• Insufficient fluid intake;
• high ambient temperature;
• eating certain foods;
• increased load;
• long-term or uncontrolled use of certain medications.

As noted earlier, dark urine in the morning is not a sign of abnormality. A similar situation occurs with increased sweat production in the heat or a lack of fluid in the body. This means that urine contains urochrome in large quantities.

Urine darkens after eating foods such as beets, beef, carrots or blueberries. Its color often changes in people who constantly drink coffee or black tea.

The main reasons that are accompanied by the discharge of light brown or dark brown urine include:

1. nephritis;
2. urolithiasis;
3. jaundice;
4. cystitis;
5. hemolysis;
6. pyelonephritis;
7. hyperlipidemia.

A dark brown tint may be a sign of liver or gallbladder damage. A rich yellow color indicates pathology of the urinary system. Urine still darkens with liver cirrhosis and hepatitis.

Disturbances in the functioning of the kidneys also entail similar changes. This is due to difficult evacuation of waste and excess liquid. In addition to darkening of the urine, the patient should be alerted to the following symptoms:

• increased urge to empty the bladder;
• painful urination;
• high body temperature;
• pain in the abdomen;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pungent smell of urine.

Only a doctor can tell you exactly why your urine has turned dark brown. To do this, the patient will definitely have to undergo tests and conduct research on individual body systems.

As for the causes of brown urine in men, they may be associated with disease of the prostate gland, vas deferens or testicles. In this case, urine usually takes on a copper tint, and this is preceded by stagnation of blood in the prostate. The cause of dark urine in men may be pathology of the epididymis or damage to the scrotum.

Darkening of urine in women occurs against the background of a number of disorders, among which should be highlighted:

• oncology of the liver or pancreas;
• lack of fluid;
• hepatitis or viral jaundice;
• vasculitis;
• kidney problems;
• consequences of extreme fasting;
• hemolytic anemia;
• infection of the urinary system;
• excess bilirubin contained in the blood.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor must order a laboratory urine test. Based on the results obtained, treatment tactics are developed.

Many conditions and pathologies can provoke darkening of urine in both men and women, including:

• hemolytic anemia;
• liver damage;
• urinary tract infections;
• renal dysfunction;
• poisoning with copper salts;
• oncological diseases of the pancreas, kidneys or liver;
• poor metabolism;
• dehydration of the body.

Cystitis and other urological diseases can also occur with dark colored urine. This is due to staphylococci, gonococci and E. coli. A characteristic symptom is painful urination. The urine becomes cloudy.

Nephritis is accompanied by a slight discharge of urine mixed with blood. This is an infectious disease caused by streptococci. The main reason for its occurrence is hypothermia of the body. Sometimes nephritis leads to anuria, when the ability to excrete urine is completely lost.

Liver cirrhosis develops slowly, but causes dangerous consequences. The reasons for its appearance include toxic alcohol poisoning, exposure to poor ecology, past hepatitis, abuse of food with artificial colors, synthetic additives and preservatives.

Symptoms of cirrhosis include an enlarged spleen, dilated veins in the abdominal area, decreased appetite, malaise, and discomfort in the right hypochondrium. Urine takes on a dark brown tint, it contains yellow foam and spectral stains, which is due to increased levels of bilirubin.

Any change in urine requires medical supervision, provided that the condition is not caused by medications or diet.

The first trimester of pregnancy in some women is accompanied by toxicosis. Against the background of vomiting, the body's fluid reserves are depleted, which leads to dehydration. As a result, the kidneys begin to produce less urine, and it becomes very concentrated. Sometimes there is even a specific smell of acetone.

In addition, when carrying a child, the female body is subjected to serious stress, from which the liver suffers. Because of this, the level of bilirubin in the blood increases. Once in the urine, it changes its color. Dark urine may be a consequence of gestational pyelonephritis. In this case, the urine becomes cloudy and often contains purulent or mucous discharge.

If, after darkening, the urine becomes light again, there is no reason to worry. First, you need to remember the foods you ate the day before and the amount of liquid you drank.

If the dark color persists for a long time and other symptoms appear, you should immediately go to the hospital.

A child passing dark urine may indicate health problems. This symptom often indicates poisoning and dehydration. Sometimes it is caused by thickening of the blood. It is even more dangerous when the urine turns brown due to liver disease, inflammation, urolithiasis, or injury from a sharp fall.

The predominance of yellowness may indicate the presence of viral hepatitis, which is known as “jaundice.”

To confirm or refute your suspicions, it is important to find out whether the child’s urination is accompanied by discomfort. For children who already know how to talk, finding out this will not be difficult. Things are more complicated with children.

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To be sure of your feelings, you will have to observe the child’s behavior for some time. If he becomes restless during urination or before this moment, then there really is a problem.

Darkening of urine does not always require medical attention. A change in its consistency can be caused by physiological factors, the consumption of certain foods and the use of medications. In such situations, the color of urine gradually returns to normal.

If it remains dark for a long time, cloudiness and an unpleasant odor appear in it, you should not put off a visit to a specialist for long. The presence of the following symptoms is a serious reason to go to the hospital:

1. yellowing of the sclera, skin and mucous membrane;
2. headache;
3. skin itching;
4. temperature;
5. weakness in the body;
6. attacks of pain in the lumbar region;
7. nausea and vomiting;
8. discomfort when urinating;
9. frequent urge to go to the toilet.

To make a diagnosis, you will need to take tests and undergo an examination. This will allow you to determine the cause of dark urine and select the optimal treatment method.

• If the diagnosis reveals kidney disease, the patient is indicated for drug therapy and special nutrition. To stabilize the condition faster, you need to drink more fluids.
• If cancer is detected, a course of chemotherapy is prescribed. In case of pathologies of the reproductive system, special attention must be paid to the care of the genitals. This recommendation is extremely important for male patients to follow, because in the absence of proper hygiene, there is a risk of microbes entering the prostate, which will cause the urine to turn brown.

Timely prevention will help prevent such consequences. Before starting drug treatment, you should carefully study the instructions and dosage regimen of the medication. If the urinary tract is infected, it is necessary to empty the bladder cavity at the first urge and after intimacy. It is important to have sufficient fluid intake throughout the day.

Do not neglect the doctor’s recommendations and self-medicate. An irresponsible approach to your health can aggravate the problem and become a reason for the occurrence of conditions dangerous to the body.