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Although a urinalysis gives definitive microscopic clues to the presence of disease, gross appearance can provide useful clues prior to formal urinalysis results. Color, clarity, odor, and associated pain give insight to the presence of disease. Normal urine appearance ranges from transparent yellow to dark amber, which is due to urobilin, a bile pigment of hemoglobin. Dark urine (see Fig. 25.50) may be due to dehydration or high concentrations of bilirubin in the blood. Deep red or brown urine may suggest porphyria. Other causes of red urine include myoglobinuria due to hemolysis from brown recluse envenomation (see Fig. 25.51), rhabdomyolysis (see Fig. 25.52), hematuria from cancer (see Fig. 25.53), ureteral stones, clotting disorders, recent genitourinary surgery, urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted infection, or falsely present in females during menses. Blackberries, beets, rhubarb, rifampin, phenazopyridine, and senna can turn urine a red-orange color. Food dyes, methylene blue, indomethacin, and propofol may turn urine blue-green.
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Cloudy or turbid-appearing urine (see Fig. 25.54) is likely due to urinary tract infections or ureteral stones.
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Management and Disposition
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Management varies depending on the cause of the urine discoloration. Intravenous fluids for dehydration, forced diuresis for rhabdomyolysis, ICU admission to observe for ongoing hemolysis in brown recluse envenomations, CT scan to search for ureteral stones or cancer, and cystoscopy may be needed. Antibiotics are needed for urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections. An irrigation Foley catheter should be placed if blood clots are present and causing bladder outlet obstruction.
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Urobilin is the bile pigment that gives urine its yellow ...