Cloudy urine means your pee looks milky, hazy, or less clear than usual. This can happen for several reasons, ranging from harmless to more serious health issues:
- Dehydration: Concentrated urine due to not drinking enough water can appear cloudy or dark yellow
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Infections cause white blood cells, pus, or blood to enter the urine, making it cloudy. Other symptoms often include pain during urination, frequent urination, and foul-smelling urine
- Kidney stones or kidney disease: These can cause cloudy urine due to infection or inefficient filtering of waste. Kidney stones may also cause pain and vomiting
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Infections like gonorrhea or chlamydia can cause discharge and white blood cells in urine, leading to cloudiness
- Diabetes: High sugar levels in urine can cause cloudiness and sometimes a sweet smell
- Diet and medications: Certain foods (like dairy or high-alkaline diets) and medications can alter urine composition and cause cloudiness
- Prostate problems (in men): Infections or inflammation of the prostate can lead to white blood cells in urine, causing cloudiness
If cloudy urine is persistent, accompanied by pain, fever, blood, or other symptoms, it is advisable to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Often, simple causes like dehydration can be corrected by drinking more water, but infections and other conditions may require medical intervention
. In summary, cloudy urine indicates the presence of substances such as white blood cells, bacteria, crystals, or excess waste, and can signal infections, dehydration, or other health issues
