The article was professionally consulted by MSc, MD, Pham Thi Thuy Nhung - Deputy Head of the Department of Testing - Vinmec International Hospital in Hai Phong.
The urinary system excretes urine to remove waste and toxins produced by the body during metabolism, maintaining stability in the body. When healthy, urine is usually clear or has a light yellow color. When the body has a disease, the urine has white sediment. The condition of urine sedimentation is caused by many reasons.
1. Due to dehydration
If the urine is dark in color, it can be easily confirmed that the white sediment is the result of dehydration - when a person does not drink enough fluids. Children and the elderly are more at risk of dehydration (which can be caused by diarrhea, vomiting or fever).
2. Due to food2. Due to food
The foods we eat affect the color and appearance of urine. When people eat foods high in phosphorus or vitamin D, urine sediment appears because the kidneys excrete excess phosphorus through urine. In addition, other foods such as orange juice, milk, beets and asparagus can also make urine cloudy. Alcohol will make urine less clear. Therefore, when changing the daily diet, urine will become clear and return to normal.
3. Urinary tract infection3. Urinary tract infection
One of the most common causes of urine sediment is urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infection is an infection of parts of the urinary tract, characterized by the presence of bacteria in the urine or the appearance of symptoms indicating bacterial invasion in one or more parts of the urinary tract.
This condition causes urine to have white or milky sediment. The urine may also have a foul odor. Infections can cause pus or blood to be released into the urinary tract, making the urine cloudy. Sediment in the urine can also be due to the accumulation of white blood cells. When bacteria or viruses invade and cause damage and disease inside the urinary tract, the urine will turn cloudy. In addition, when there is a urinary tract infection, the patient may feel pain and burning when urinating.
4. Kidney infection
Most infections affect the kidneys. Initially, it is a urinary tract infection, which can then spread and worsen if not treated properly.
Kidney infections can appear as urine sediment because the infection produces pus, which mixes with the urine. Similar to the symptoms of urinary tract infections, kidney infections can cause fever, chills, cramps, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, back pain, and urine that is white, bloody, or has a foul odor. Kidney infections can also be caused by kidney stones.
5. Urethritis due to gonorrhea, chlamydia
When the urethra is inflamed, it will affect the excretion of urine and semen and can leave adverse complications for the patient. Urethritis due to gonorrhea can cause urine sediment.
Bacterial and fungal infections that cause inflammation can also be triggered by certain ingredients in soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, care products, etc. Gonorrheal urethritis can cause itching around the vulva; vaginal discharge will be foul-smelling, thin, pale, colored, fishy, worse after sex, and painful urination. Cloudy urine can also be caused by prostatitis, causing painful ejaculation, abdominal pain, and blood in the urine.
In addition to the symptom of cloudy urine, you will have other symptoms such as frequent urination, fever, lower back pain, and even pus in the urine. You need to go to the hospital for an ultrasound and urine test to help diagnose the disease.
6. Chyluria
Chyluria is a disease of the urinary system due to a leak from the lymphatic system into the renal pelvis. The cause of the disease can be congenital, due to trauma, or due to parasitic infection with filariasis. Chyluria is mainly composed of lipids, including triglycerides, phospholipids, and free cholesterol. The disease is caused by Wuchereria Bancrofti filariasis or congenital malformations, mediastinal tumors, or post-traumatic obstruction of the lymphatic system. Symptoms of chyluria are urine that is cloudy white like milk or rice water, with fatty deposits, and when it settles, there are gluey films and white patches like curdled milk or curdled fat. This phenomenon occurs intermittently.
7. Phosphate urine
This is a phenomenon caused by the presence of a high density of phosphate excreted in the urine. The patient urinates clearly, sometimes seeing urine like rice water (usually in the morning); when it settles, there is sediment like lime. Phosphate urine is not a disease. However, if this condition persists and you drink little water, it is easy to form kidney stones due to phosphate crystal deposition.
8. Due to medication
Some medications can also cause urine sediment to appear, such as: diabetes medication and vitamins such as vitamin B and vitamin C, because these two vitamins contain a large amount of phosphorus.
In addition, there are several cases of urine sediment due to not drinking enough water every day. The amount of water is not provided enough, so it is not able to filter out everything inside the urinary tract. A simple solution for this condition is to drink more water every day (make sure to drink enough 1-2 liters per day), and the urine will return to normal. Or some foods we eat affect the color and appearance of urine. Eating more fruits and vegetables will make urine clear and odorless.
In conclusion, if you change your daily diet, your urine will be clear and return to normal. However, urine sediment due to diseases requires medical examination and detection for timely treatment.
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