Individuals experiencing illness, including COVID-19, often notice changes in their urine color. Understanding the relationship between COVID-19 and urine color helps clarify what these changes might signify.
Understanding Urine Color
Healthy urine typically ranges in color from clear to pale yellow, a spectrum largely influenced by hydration levels. This yellow hue comes from a pigment called urochrome, which becomes more concentrated and darker when less fluid is consumed. Conversely, drinking more water dilutes this pigment, resulting in lighter, clearer urine.
Beyond hydration, various factors can alter urine color. Certain foods, such as beets, blackberries, or fava beans, can impart reddish or brownish tones. Medications also frequently cause color changes; for instance, some antibiotics can lead to dark brown urine, while certain pain relievers might produce an orange tint. Medical conditions unrelated to COVID-19, such as liver disease, kidney issues, rhabdomyolysis (muscle tissue breakdown), or porphyria (a rare genetic disorder), can also cause urine to appear unusually dark, including brown, tea-colored, or even black.
COVID-19 and Dehydration
One of the most frequent reasons for dark urine during a COVID-19 infection is dehydration. Common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, can lead to significant fluid loss from the body. A fever increases the body’s metabolic rate, which in turn elevates fluid requirements. Gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea directly cause a rapid loss of water and electrolytes.
Reduced appetite, another common symptom of COVID-19, can also contribute to dehydration. When individuals eat and drink less, their fluid intake decreases, further exacerbating fluid imbalance. This overall reduction in fluid, coupled with increased fluid loss, results in urine that is more concentrated and therefore appears darker than usual.
Other Potential Links with COVID-19
While dehydration is the most common cause, other factors related to COVID-19 can also influence urine color. Medications prescribed to manage COVID-19 symptoms or the infection itself may cause changes. For example, some antibiotics can lead to dark brown urine. Certain antiviral medications, like Paxlovid, have also been associated with dark-colored urine.
In rare instances, severe complications of COVID-19 can cause very dark urine. Acute kidney injury (AKI), a condition where the kidneys suddenly lose their ability to filter waste, can occur in patients with severe COVID-19. This can lead to decreased urine output and a darker, more concentrated appearance. Similarly, severe liver inflammation, or hepatitis, which can be a complication of COVID-19, can cause a buildup of bilirubin, a pigment that may turn urine dark brown or tea-colored, often accompanied by yellowing of the skin or eyes. Rhabdomyolysis, a rare but serious condition involving muscle breakdown, has also been reported in some COVID-19 cases, leading to dark, cola-colored urine due to the release of muscle proteins.
When to Seek Medical Advice
While dark urine during COVID-19 is often due to dehydration, certain signs warrant medical attention. If dark urine persists despite increased fluid intake, consult a healthcare professional. Other concerning symptoms include new or worsening abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), severe fatigue, or significant muscle pain.
Reduced urination, or not passing urine for over eight hours, also requires prompt medical assessment. These symptoms, especially when combined with dark urine, could indicate more serious underlying issues such as severe dehydration, kidney problems, or liver dysfunction.