What Does Cloudy Urine Mean? Decoding the Mystery with Medical Science
By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 17, 2024Click to rate this article!
[Total: 5 Avg: 4.8]
Get more insightful and
helpful tips to
treat Diabetes for FREE
Register to Avail the Offer
Send OTPBy continuing, you agree with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions
By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 17, 2024Table of Contents
Normally our urine is clear, free of odd smells, and see-through. However, sometimes it may turn hazy. This may not be a cause for concern as it may be due to ingestion of certain foods or maybe you’re a bit dehydrated but, sometimes, it’s a sign that something needs further investigation.
This article delves deep into what causes cloudy urine, discusses about what symptoms might go with it, and covers when to see a healthcare professional. Plus, we’ll go over the common reasons for cloudy urine, how it’s diagnosed, and how it’s managed. Lastly, we will answer some frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
Did you know?
Let’s first be clear on what cloudy urine is and how it differs from regular, clear urine.
Cloudy urine isn’t transparent anymore, it looks milky or foggy. Anything from harmless food to serious health issues may make urine cloudy.
Normal urine colour ranges from light yellow to amber, darker shades mean your urine is more concentrated. If your urine looks cloudy, it could mean something unusual is in it, which might need further check-ups or medical attention.
Some things causing cloudy urine are harmless, like some types of food or mild dehydration. Other times, it could be a signal of a health issue like UTI or kidney stones. By paying attention to other symptoms you might be experiencing along with a cloudy urine, you can decide if you need to visit a healthcare professional.
In the table below is a list of causes that may impact urine colour:
Factor | Impact |
Dehydration | Darker, more concentrated, and cloudy urine |
Urinary tract infection | Cloudy urine accompanied by odour and discomfort, and maybe blood |
Kidney stones | Cloudy urine with sharp pain and possible blood |
Dietary changes | Consuming certain foods may temporarily cause cloudiness |
Underlying medical conditions | Diabetes, vaginitis, or prostatitis may lead to cloudy urine |
Diabetes, diet, kidney stones, and dehydration can all cause cloudy urine, in fact without an active urinary tract infection, which is a common misconception in patients with this complaint.
Dr Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
Cloudy urine may be accompanied by other symptoms. These could signal a deeper issue that needs a doctor’s consultation.
Urinary urgency is the sudden need to urinate, even if you just relieve yourself. This could be a sign of a UTI, prostatitis, etc.
Urinating more without drinking much might indicate a hidden condition, like a UTI, interstitial cystitis, or kidney stones.
Stinging or burning when urinating, also known as dysuria, might point to different conditions. These include UTIs, vaginitis, cystitis, and certain sexually transmitted infections.
A strong, unusually foul smell in your urine might signal an infection, like a UTI or bacterial vaginosis, or dehydration.
Lower back or belly pain could mean a bigger issue, like a kidney infection, kidney stones, or women-specific issues.
Keeping an eye out for worrying symptoms and knowing when it’s time to see a doctor is essential.
On top of cloudy urine, if you feel any pain, discomfort, or a sting when you urinate or if you experience urinary urgency and increased frequency make sure to see a healthcare professional as soon as you can.
If your urine stays cloudy for more than a few days or gets worse, it’s important to see a healthcare professional. They’ll work to figure out what is the cause and may discuss a suitable course of action.
Frequent repeated instances of cloudy urine could mean an underlying disease. It needs further investigation and management from a healthcare professional.
A good, clean urine sample is very essential to diagnose the cause of the condition, treatment usually depends on the cause and may be resolved within 3-5 days of a complete course of treatment.
Dr Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
As mentioned above we will delve into the causes of cloudy urine. Having a knowledge of these causes is always beneficial.
When germs (micro-organisms) attack the urinary system, UTIs occur. They usually cause cloudy urine. Both men and women may experience UTIs, but women tend to experience them more frequently.
Mostly, bacterial infections cause UTIs, but sometimes viral infections may cause UTIs as well. Not maintaining personal hygiene, having a weak immune system, or certain medications may increase your chances of these infections.
Risk factors: Some factors make people more likely to get UTIs, such as age, gender, sexual activity, or menopause.
Not drinking enough fluids can cause dehydration. This can lead to dark, thick, and cloudy urine. Stay hydrated, especially when it’s hot out and after workouts.
Symptoms of not drinking enough fluids include dark urine, urinating less, feeling tired, feeling dizzy, and being very thirsty. Drinking more fluids may fix this and make the urine clear again.
When you don’t drink enough fluids, your kidneys try to save water. Urine then turns darker and more concentrated. This can make urine look cloudy or yellow to dark amber. Drinking more water may help keep urine clear and light.
Kidney stones are hard stones that are created from minerals and salts inside the kidneys. They can cause cloudy urine. Kidney stones may vary in size, and passing them out could be painful, or even make you bleed.
Different minerals can cause kidney stones, such as calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, or uric acid.
Signs of kidney stones include back or side pain, fever and chills, vomiting, blood in the urine, smelly urine, and a burn when urinating. If the stone is too big to pass naturally, a doctor’s help may be needed.
Foul-smelling urine is a symptom of a urinary tract infection. Other symptoms are cloudy urine, an urgent need to urinate, or a burning sensation while urinating. The foul smell may be the only symptom of a urinary tract infection.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka – MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)
Examples of common STIs are gonorrhea and chlamydia. These cause inflammation in the body, making white blood cells gather and turn urine cloudy. STIs can also cause vaginal discharge which may get mixed with urine, making it look cloudy.
Both men and women may experience gonorrhea. It’s a bacterial infection. Signs may include a burn when urinating, discharge from the vagina, and abdominal pain.
Another bacterial infection, called chlamydia, can make urine look cloudy. It may also cause a burning sensation when urinating, vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain in women.
Vaginitis is inflammation or infection of the vagina. It can also result in cloudy urine.
An imbalance between good and bad bacteria within the vagina can cause bacterial vaginosis. This is a common cause of vaginitis. Symptoms may include smelly discharge, itching, and pain while urinating.
Also called candidiasis, a yeast infection happens when too much yeast gathers in the vagina. This can cause itching, burning, and a thick, white discharge.
This is inflammation or infection of the prostate gland in men. It can lead to white blood cells, pus, or discharge building up, and result in cloudy urine.
Prostatitis can be either acute, which means it starts suddenly and needs immediate medical attention, or chronic, which lasts long. Both types cause similar symptoms.
Multiple factors can cause prostatitis, like a bacterial infection, injury to the pelvic area, or a poorly working immune system.
Sometimes, diabetes and damage to the kidneys from long-standing diabetes can turn urine cloudy. The body may try to get rid of extra sugar it can’t process through the urine which might make the urine cloudy.
Diabetic nephropathy refers to kidney damage due to diabetes. It can hamper the kidneys’ ability to filter urine thoroughly of all the wastes. This sometimes leads to protein, sugar, and other waste passing through into the urine, giving it a cloudy look.
Signs of diabetes-related kidney problems might include urinating a lot, feeling very thirsty, weight loss for no reason, and feeling tired. Diabetic nephropathy may progress to kidney failure if it’s left untreated. This may need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Some foods may make urine cloudy. These foods are often packed with phosphorus, purines, refined sugars, and salt. Examples are dairy products, meats, seafood, sugary foods and drinks, salty foods, alcohol, coffee, and tea. Eating these items in moderation may help stop getting cloudy urine due to diet.
Some examples of foods that may make urine look cloudy are as follows.
Once your symptoms suggest a cause of the hazy urine, a healthcare provider may conduct tests to confirm the cause based on which a course of action is determined.
Different tests may be done depending on what seems to be the cause, which are as follows.
How hazy urine is managed hinges on the cause. Management methods may include the following:
Self-medication is never advised, always consult your healthcare professional when confronted with a concerning symptom and follow the plan of action charted by them.
Knowing what makes urine cloudy helps to get the right course of management.. By knowing the symptoms that accompany the hazy urine, doctors can identify the underlying conditions earlier. They can then ask for help from a healthcare professional.
By watching what foods and drinks they have, keeping hydrated, and knowing that early help with UTIs and other infections may help. That will ease worries and discomfort linked to cloudy urine. Staying alert and tackling the root causes of cloudy urine may improve overall health and well-being.
Yes, some causes of cloudy urine might differ by gender. While both men and women can get UTIs, women are more likely to. Women can also get cloudy urine from vaginitis, and men might get it from prostatitis.
Cloudy urine might not always be a serious problem, but sometimes it points to a more major issue. It might be due to something easily correctable like a faulty diet, or it might be due to a serious kidney infection. Thus, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for a check-up and management.
Yes, urine may become cloudy due to different factors unrelated to infections, like changes in diet, dehydration, or kidney stones. Consulting with a healthcare professional may help you find any possible causes and offer suitable remedies.
There isn’t a specific vitamin or nutrient lack that leads to hazy urine. However, eating too much of certain nutrients, like eating lots of phosphorus-rich foods like dairy products and meat may cause hazy urine.
Cloudy and stinky urine could be down to infection, such as a UTI or STI. Make sure to see a healthcare professional if you notice these signs to get the right diagnosis and management.
Comments