Cloudy Urine Causes

Cloudy urine or milky urine is a type of symptom in itself, as it may be a clear indication of some illnesses which might have affected the body and the person is unaware of it. Basically, shades of urine normally determine the level of hydration in the body, apart from other factors. Normally, the color would vary, from clear like water to dark amber. If there are frequent changes in the urine color and is combined with other urinary disease symptoms such as increased frequency of urination or burning sensation while urinating, it surely reveals that there is something amiss in the body.

Causes of Cloudy Urine

The most probable answer as to why cloudy urine is formed in the body is dehydration. Inadequate amount of water in the body causes the concentration of waste solids to get higher when compared to the liquids in the body. So, as a result the urine may appear dark and murky. Drinking about 8-10 cups of water daily will help in reducing the coloration and preventing the occurrence of foul or strong-smelling cloudy urine.

Accumulation of a large amount of phosphate in the urine is associated with cloudy urine causes which is completely harmless. Excess phosphate crystals build up in the urine and when they precipitate, they tend to make the urine cloudy. After taking a large meal or even after drinking milk the urine may appear cloudy. This is because milk is high in phosphate, and a large meal adds to the accumulation of phosphate in the urine.

Cloudy urine in women is also a common occurrence and it generally has its cause from normal or abnormal vaginal discharge. However, an important thing to take note of is that vaginal discharge is a symptom in itself, which may be physiological or pathological.

Consuming too much of vitamin supplements is one of the most common causes of yellow cloudy urine. Vitamin C and vitamins belonging to the group of B are water-soluble in nature. When such vitamins are taken in a large quantity, the body flushes the excess amount through the kidneys and expels them through the urine.

Diseases such as urinary tract infection (UTI), gonorrhea, and kidney infections known as pyelonephritis are responsible for causing pus in the urine, which might manifest into cloudy urine. Cloudy urine and pain is sometimes associated with pyelonephritis. The person may experience pain while urinating, accompanied by fever or infections.

Cloudy urine, as mentioned earlier, may be a symptom of some underlying disorder in the body. When it is accompanied by frequent urination, sudden urge to urinate, sharp pain while urinating and abdominal pain, then this may indicate the onset of bladder infection, known as cystitis. In some cases, diseases such as jaundice and hemolytic anemia (anemia resulting from destruction of erythrocytes) are found to be one of the dark yellow urine causes.

Apart from all the above cloudy urine causes, proteinuria is one condition that raises great concerns. It is defined as a condition wherein, the urine has the excess amount of protein in it. Now, the buildup of this excess is due to reasons which arise from kidney problems and high blood pressure. Proteinuria is associated with cloudy urine and pregnancy and this is commonly encountered in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of the pregnancy. If there is an onset of high blood pressure along with proteinuria, immediate medical intervention is required.

The treatment of the condition depends on what has caused or causing it. For instance, in most cases, UTI or kidney stones turn out to be the offender. In case of UTI, the treatment would consist of administering antibiotics, which would again depend on the nature of the infection. And if kidney stone is found out to be the cause, then the treatment may range from drinking plenty of water, to surgery to get rid of the stones. So as we can see from the description above, cloudy urine cases may be a mild case of dehydration or a severe form of infection. Therefore, it is important that you pay a visit to your doctor if you think the symptom is prolonging or it is accompanied by other abnormal symptoms.