Urine cloudiness

Cloudy, murky, or turbid urine reflects the presence of bacteria, mucus, leukocytes or erythrocytes, epithelial cells, fat, or phosphates (in alkaline urine). It’s characteristic of urinary tract infection (UTI) but can also result from prolonged storage of a urine specimen at room temperature.

History and physical examination

Ask about symptoms of UTI, such as dysuria; urinary urgency or frequency; or pain in the flank, lower back, or suprapubic area. Also ask about recurrent urinary tract infections or recent surgery or treatment involving the urinary tract.

Obtain a urine sample to check for pus or mucus. (See Peforming the three-glass urine test, page 608.) Using a reagent strip, test for blood, glucose, and pH. Palpate the suprapubic area and flanks for tenderness.

If you note cloudy urine in a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter, especially with concurrent fever, remove the catheter immediately (or change it if the patient must have one in place).

Medical causes

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Cloudy urine is common with UTI. Other urinary changes include urgency, frequency, hematuria, dysuria, nocturia and, in males, urethral discharge. Urinary hesitancy; bladder spasms; costovertebral angle tenderness; and suprapubic, lower back, or flank pain may occur. Other effects include fever, chills, malaise, nausea, and vomiting.

Special considerations

Collect urine samples for urinalysis and culture and sensitivity tests. Increase the patient’s fluid intake, and administer an antibiotic and a urinary anesthetic (such as phenazopyridine). Continue checking the appearance of the patient’s urine to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.

Pediatric pointers

Cloudy urine in children also points to UTI.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)
• Author(s): Springhouse
• Year of Publication: 2006
• Copyright Details: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), Copyright © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Orange urine

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Orange urine:

Copyright Details: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Orange urine

• Back to symptom: Orange urine: Introduction (review 12 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Orange urine: Hematuria (A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis)
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Orange urine

More About This Book: Title: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition) Authors: Springhouse Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2006 ISBN: 1-58255-402-1

 » Next page: Hematuria (A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis)

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Hematuria (A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis)
• Proteinuria (A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis)
• Dysuria (Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
• Hematuria (Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
• Urethral discharge (Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Orange urine
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City