Self-diagnosis based on urine color and odor.

The color of urine can reflect your health status - Photo: Viet Duc Hospital

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy, deputy head of the hemodialysis department (Viet Duc Friendship Hospital), said that urine testing is one of the relatively simple, non-invasive ways to check and monitor health.

Individuals can also detect abnormalities in their urine themselves through its smell, color, and turbidity.

According to Dr. Thuy, normal urine ranges from clear to slightly cloudy. Cloudy urine indicates the presence of bacteria, fat, red blood cells, white blood cells, or changes in urinary pH. Cloudy urine can also be caused by the presence of vaginal secretions.

What do the smell and color of urine indicate about your body?

Normally, urine is clear yellow; when diluted, it is pale yellow, and when concentrated, it becomes dark yellow.

However, red urine could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, renal vascular malformation, kidney injury, kidney tumor; due to medication (e.g., rifampicin, rifabutin...); or due to food (beetroot, red dragon fruit).

Brown discoloration may be due to the presence of hemoglobin or myoglobin (a type of protein). Dark yellow discoloration should be considered due to bilirubin levels (a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells) or the use of tetracycline.

Cloudy white urine can be caused by high levels of protein (glomerular damage), pus, crystals, or chyle. Finally, bluish/dark blue urine may be due to urinary tract infection or medication use (methylene blue, cimetidine).

Normally, urine has a pungent odor after a period of time following urination. However, if the urine has a sweet, fruity smell, it may indicate ketonuria.

Foul-smelling urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection. A strong, pungent odor immediately after urination could be a sign of a urinary tract infection caused by Proteus (bacteria that normally reside in the gut). A musty smell could be due to food such as asparagus or garlic.

Regarding the daily urine volume, the doctor stated that a normal person who drinks enough water will urinate approximately 1,500ml - 2,000ml per day.

Dr. Thuy further explained that urine tests aim to detect and measure various compounds passing through a patient's urine using a single urine sample. The test results can help diagnose many diseases or identify their causes.

"Urine tests should be conducted during routine health checkups. Especially when noticing any abnormalities in the urine, it's crucial to consult a urologist for proper examination and treatment to avoid negative impacts on health and quality of life," Dr. Thuy emphasized.

A urine test should be performed during a routine health check-up - Illustration.

Meaning of urine test results

According to Nguyen Thi Khuyen, a Bachelor of Laboratory Science from the Central Laboratory - Pathology Department ( Bac Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital), urine quality is usually assessed through several basic indicators such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and urine specific gravity.

This index can determine the specific gravity of urine. From this, doctors can tell whether the patient's urine is currently dilute or concentrated, depending on whether the patient drinks a lot of water or is dehydrated.

Normal SG (Sugar Content) levels range from 1.015 to 1.025. This index can be used to assess kidney diseases such as pyelonephritis and tubular kidney disease; liver diseases; diabetes, etc.

- Leukocytes (LEU) or BLO (white blood cells) index : This index indicates whether or not white blood cells are present in the urine. Normally, white blood cells do not appear in urine. However, a positive leukocyte index means the patient is at risk of urinary tract infection.

- Nitrite (NIT) index - a compound produced by bacteria : If you are healthy, the NIT index will be negative. This index indirectly indicates the presence of urinary tract bacteria through the products they produce. The bacteria that most commonly cause urinary tract infections are E. coli.

- pH level - urine acidity : The pH level is used to assess the acidity or alkalinity of urine. For a normal person, the pH level ranges from 4.6 to 8. A pH less than or equal to 4 indicates highly acidic urine. A pH higher than or equal to 9 indicates highly alkaline urine.

Abnormal urine pH readings can indicate kidney infection, kidney failure, vomiting, pyloric stenosis, diabetes, dehydration, diarrhea, and other conditions.

Urine pH levels are also related to diet. Vegetarians tend to have high pH levels, while those with high-protein diets tend to have low pH levels.

- Blood count (BLD) - hematuria : Normally, there are no red blood cells in the urine. However, the presence of this indicator may indicate a urinary tract infection, bladder hemorrhage, kidney tumor, kidney stones, etc.

When the urine hematology test results are abnormal, the doctor will order additional diagnostic methods to identify organ damage causing the blood in the urine, such as kidney, bladder, or urethra damage.

- PRO (Protein) level : A healthy person will not have protein in their urine. The presence of a small or significant amount of protein in the urine indicates a risk of kidney disease, which may cause urinary tract infections or conditions resulting in blood in the urine.

For pregnant women, protein levels are often used to monitor and diagnose certain medical conditions early, such as hypertension, preeclampsia, and sepsis.

If PRO (protein) appears in the urine as albumin, pregnant women should be aware of the risk of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.

- Glucose (GLU) level : High glucose levels are common in people with diabetes or gestational diabetes. Additionally, patients with renal tubular disease, pancreatitis, or unhealthy diets may also have glucose in their urine.

- BIL (Bilirubin) index : When hemoglobin in red blood cells breaks down, it creates a yellow-orange pigment called bilirubin. Normally, most bilirubin is excreted through the digestive tract, with only a very small portion converted into urobilinogen in the urine.

Therefore, normal bilirubin levels in urine are negative or very low. Abnormally high levels suggest hepatobiliary disease.

- KET (Ketone) level : The normal KET level in a healthy person is 2.5 - 5 mg/dL or 0.25 - 0.5 mmol/L. However, in pregnant women, this level is often absent or lower than normal.

Elevated KET levels commonly occur in patients with poorly controlled diabetes, as well as in alcoholics, those who fast for extended periods, or those on low-carbohydrate diets.

If a pregnant woman has an abnormal KET score, it may be a warning sign that the mother and fetus are malnourished, overworked, or not getting enough rest.

- UBG (Urobilinogen) level : In fact, UBG is a breakdown product of bilirubin. In normal individuals, UBG is not present in urine. The presence of UBG may indicate a risk of hepatitis, cirrhosis due to viral infection, bacterial infection, or jaundice in patients with congestive heart failure.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tu-bat-benh-qua-mau-sac-mui-nuoc-tieu-20240925212918531.htm