Physician Says Unusual Changes In Urine Colour May Be Signs Of Kidney, Liver Problems

A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Dr. Sule Abdullahi, has urged Nigerians to pay attention to their urine colour, noting that unusual changes in urine colour could be a sign of infection, kidney and liver problems.

He said this during interview with Punch, stressing that the colour of the urine has a lot to tell about an individual’s health.

According to him, Nigerians should seek medical evaluation when they consistently have urine that is dark and foamy as it could be a sign of protein in the urine (proteinuria), which requires medical intervention.

Abdullahi, who is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Bayero University, Kano, explained, “This urine, sometimes as you see it contains some chemicals and properties that when you look at it and analyse it can tell a lot about your health.

“There are two things to look at in the urine, glucose and protein. Ideally, you are not supposed to see glucose in the urine.

"When you see glucose in the urine, it becomes suspicious whether that person has diabetes mellitus.

“But sometimes in pregnant women the threshold to control sugar in the urine is lowered.

"So, they can see some traces of it. But if you see much of it also, you have to screen out and make sure that it is not diabetes you are dealing with.

“The other thing is that you are not supposed to see protein in the urine also because the kidney is supposed to filter and will not allow the protein to pass through.

“So when you see protein in the urine, it is telling you whether you are having kidney problems or an infection.

"So when you see protein, you should look at whether the person has an infection or renal disease.”

The gynaecologist further said blood is not supposed to be seen in the urine also, adding that seeing blood in the urine means there are issues.

“There is another thing that has been added in the last decades.

"You are not supposed to see blood in the urine, when you see it, you have to look at whether there are problems with the kidneys or in the bladder, or along the passages.

“So, one has to look for what happened. That is called hematuria – blood in the urine.

“Then you can have products of the blood in the urine.

"When the red blood cells are destroyed in the body, they produce bilirubin.

“So, if you see them, they will be telling you that likely, some red blood cells are being destroyed may be due to infections or other reasons or if the liver is not able to metabolize bilirubin.

“When you see it, it is either there is a liver problem or something is destroying the red blood cells,” he said.

Urging Nigerians not to joke with the colour of their urine, the health expert noted, “When you see dark colour in the urine, it is showing that there is a problem. You may have kidney problems.