Urine of an abnormal color appears different from the usual straw-yellow color. Abnormally-colored urine may be cloudy, dark, or blood-tinged.

See also: Urine, bloody or dark

Discoloration of urine

Any changes in urine color, or the presence of an abnormal urine color that cannot be linked to the consumption of a food or drug, should be reported to your health care provider. This is particularly important if it happens for longer than a day or two, or you have repeated episodes.

Some dyes used in food may be excreted in the urine, and a wide variety of drugs can discolor the urine.

Cloudy or murky urine is a sign of a urinary tract infection, which may also have an offensive smell. Murky urine may also be caused by the presence of bacteria, mucus, white blood cells or red blood cells, epithelial cells, fat, or phosphates.

Dark brown or clear urine is characteristic of a liver disorder such as acute viral hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Pink, red, or smoky brown urine can be a side effect of a medication or may be caused by the recent consumption of beets, blackberries or certain food colorings. It is also characteristic of a urinary tract disorder in which bleeding occurs such as cystitis, enlarged prostate, kidney or bladder tumor, tuberculosis, bladder stones, kidney infection, Wilms' tumor (in children), or hypernephroma. Hemolytic anemia and porphyria can also cause urine to take on these colors. It may also occur after trauma to the kidneys or urinary tract.

Dark yellow or orange urine can be caused by recent use of laxatives or consumption of B complex vitamins or carotene. Orange urine is often caused by phenazopyridine (used in the treatment of urinary tract infections), rifampin, and warfarin.

Green or blue urine is due to the effect of artificial color in food or drug. It may also result from medications including amitriptyline, indomethacin, and doxorubicin.

• Food (beets, blackberries or other naturally red foods)
• Food dyes
• Certain drugs
• Urinary tract infection
• Liver diseases such as acute viral hepatitis or cirrhosis

Other diseases (not presented in order of likelihood -- some are extremely unlikely):

• Acute tubular necrosis
• Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy
• Alport syndrome
• Carcinoma of the urinary bladder
• Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
• Chronic prostatitis
• Endocarditis
• Acute cystitis
• Acute glomerulonephritis
• Chronic glomerulonephritis
• Hepatitis
• Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
• Prostate cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Rhabdomyolysis

Images

Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Next Section

Urine Treatment

Review Date: 09/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)