Could Your Urine Color be a COVID-19 Symptom?

We are currently facing the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and it is said that every Kenyan now knows somebody who knows somebody who has had corona. Long gone are the days when we could jokingly put up the viral Indian TikTok video of not knowing anyone. At least those days we could lie to ourselves that the virus was not real. 

Now, most of us have felt how real the coronavirus is. It is sad it has had to take relatives, neighbors, and colleagues dying or testing positive for the virus for us to understand this. Just recently, my best friend tested positive for the virus and I was seriously gutted. How could someone I know test positive? Wasn’t this virus a cooked-up lie by the government? I thought. 

Before we knew she was COVID-19 positive, we had shared a toilet severally. And according to WHO guidelines, that action should put anyone at high risk of getting the virus. We had to go straight to isolation and take a COVID test ASAP. Being aware of the results of any disease is mind wrecking, every little change in your body seems like a symptom. I started paying close attention to things that I normally wouldn’t. My urine was one of the things that I kept on checking; every time I went to the toilet it seemed to be a different shade of yellow. It got me wondering, could the color of my urine be a symptom of coronavirus? This had me in frenzy and I took to the Internet to answer all my questions. Here is what I found out:

Clear Urine

This is present when you are drinking too much water. Yes, you can drink more than the daily-recommended amount of water mum. While being hydrated is a good thing, drinking too much water can rob your body of electrolytes. Urine that occasionally looks clear is no reason to panic, but urine that’s always clear could indicate that you need to slow down on how much water you’re drinking.

Yellowish to Amber

The color of “normal” urine falls on the spectrum of light yellow to deep amber color. This color is brought about by urochrome pigment that’s naturally in your urine. It becomes more diluted as you drink water. When your body breaks down hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in your red blood cells produces urochrome. The color of your urine will mostly depend on how diluted this pigment is.

Having a lot of B-vitamins in your bloodstream can cause urine to appear neon yellow.

Red or Pink

It is not uncommon for your urine to appear red or pink, it can be so if you eat fruits with naturally deep pink or magenta pigments, such as beetroots and blueberries. However, this urine color can be a symptom known as hematuria, including enlarged prostate, tumors in the bladder and kidney, and kidney stones. Make sure you speak to your doctor if concerned about blood in your urine. 

Blue or green

Blue or green urine is very rare and can be caused by food coloring. It can also be the result of dyes used in medical tests performed on your kidneys or bladder.

The pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial infection can also cause your urine to turn blue, green, or even indigo purple. 

Dark brown

In most cases, urine that’s dark brown indicates dehydration. Dark brown urine can also be a side effect of certain medications, including metronidazole (Flagyl) and chloroquine (Aralen).

Eating large amounts of rhubarb, aloe, or fava beans can cause dark brown urine. A condition called porphyria can cause a buildup of the natural chemicals in your bloodstream and cause rusty or brown urine. Dark brown urine can also be an indicator of liver disease, as it can be caused by bile getting into your urine.

Cloudy

Cloudy urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection. It can also be a symptom of some chronic diseases and kidney conditions. In some cases, cloudy urine is another sign of being dehydrated.

Cloudy urine with foam or bubbles is called pneumaturia. This can be a symptom of serious health conditions, including Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis. There are some cases where urine is foamy, and doctors can’t determine the cause.

Ohio State University warned that dehydration could be a warning sign of coronavirus. Therefore indicating if your urine is dark brown you are likely to be dehydrated. Anybody that notices they’re dehydrated, coupled with difficulty breathing, should consider going to the hospital, it said.

Please note the following symptoms

Most common symptoms:

· Fever

· Dry cough

· Tiredness

Less common symptoms:

· Aches and pains

· Sore throat

· Diarrhea

· Conjunctivitis

· Headache

· Loss of taste or smell

· a rash on the skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms:

· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

· Chest pain or pressure

· Loss of speech or movement     

Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.

Coronavirus is a deadly infection that has caused the death of millions worldwide. It is therefore very important for us to always take care of ourselves by wearing our masks, sanitizing, and staying home.  Also make sure you stay hydrated always as it helps you fight other diseases.

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