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Urine is the clear and sometimes light yellow liquid that is a waste product of the body. Cloudy urine in both men and women is a sign of some infection and is also referred to as turbid, discolored or foamy urine. Cloudy urine in males is sometimes caused by mild dehydration, but in the absence of other symptoms it passes away and is inconsequential. Certain conditions can result in excessive protein or crystalline substances being present in urine, giving it a cloudy appearance. Urinary tract infections (UTI) may cause blood and pus to be passed in the urine, giving it a cloudy appearance. Apart from these, there are numerous other causes that can result in blood being passed in the urine, resulting in a cloudy, dark or reddish appearance.

Consumption of different foods and certain drugs may also lead to abnormally colored urine. This may be due to the presence of dyes in the food that are excreted in the urine. Certain supplements such as vitamin B complex supplements may also cause urine to appear more yellowish than normal.

Some of the causes of cloudy or abnormally colored urine include:

• Urinary tract infections usually cause cloudy and foul smelling urine to be passed. The malodorous, cloudy appearance may be due to the presence of bacteria, mucus, red blood and white blood cells, epithelial cells, fats or phosphates.
• White cloudy urine in men may be caused by the presence of semen in the urine. This milky colored urine in males commonly occurs after an ejaculation.
• Cloudy urine may also occur after drinking alcohol.
• A darkish appearance to the urine may signify a problem with the liver such as cirrhosis or acute viral hepatitis.
• Certain foods such as beets, blackberries and mulberries may cause pink or smoky brown urine. This reddish or smoky brown color may also signify bleeding in the urinary tract caused by cystitis, enlarged prostate, kidney infection, bladder stones, tumors in the kidney or bladder, tuberculosis, hemolytic anemia, porphyria or hypernephroma. It may also be caused by Wilm’s tumor in the case of children.
• Trauma to the kidneys can also result in urine having a reddish or smoky brown color.
• Certain medications such as rifampin, warfarin, phenazopyridine and certain laxatives can cause urine to take on a dark yellow or orange appearance.
• Medications such as amitriptyline, indomethacin and doxorubicin may cause a green or bluish hue in urine.
• Other diseases that can cause abnormalities in the appearance of urine include acute tubular necrosis, acute unilateral obstructive uropathy, Alport syndrome, bladder cancer, chronic prostatis, endocarditis, acute cystitis, acute glomerulonephritis, renal cell carcinoma, and rhabdomyolysis.

If you experience cloudy urine or abnormally colored urine that persists and cannot be accounted for by anything in your diet then you should consult your doctor. Also consult your doctor if you have dark brownish colored urine accompanied by pale stools and yellow skin and eyes.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination which may include an examination of the pelvis, rectum and anus. You will be asked questions regarding your medical history as well as questions pertaining to your symptoms. These will include questions regarding the commencement of symptoms, time pattern, the color and quality of urine, the frequency of urination, the odor, your diet and the type of medication if any, that you have been consuming. You will also be asked if you have been experiencing any other symptoms and the amount of fluids you have been consuming.

Your doctor may also call for certain tests to aid in the diagnosis. These tests would include urine analysis, blood tests including liver function tests and renal function tests and ultrasound imaging of the kidneys and bladder.

Reference

1. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003139all.htm