Differential Diagnosis for Red Urine
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Beetroot or food coloring: Certain foods like beets, rhubarb, or food coloring can cause urine to turn red or pink due to the excretion of pigments.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Medications: Certain medications such as rifampicin, phenazopyridine, or senna can cause urine to turn red or orange.
- Urinary tract infection: Some urinary tract infections, especially those caused by certain bacteria, can produce pigments that turn urine red.
- Dehydration: Concentrated urine can sometimes appear red or dark yellow.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Rhabdomyolysis: A serious condition where muscle tissue breaks down, releasing myoglobin into the urine, which can cause it to turn red or brown.
- Porphyria: A group of rare genetic disorders that can cause urine to turn red or purple due to the accumulation of porphyrins.
Rare Diagnoses
- Alkaptonuria: A rare genetic disorder that affects the breakdown of certain amino acids, causing urine to turn black or red when exposed to air.
- Porphyrinuria: A rare condition where porphyrins are excreted in the urine, causing it to turn red or purple.
- Carotenemia: A condition where excessive consumption of carotenoid-rich foods can cause urine to turn orange or yellow, but in rare cases, it may appear red.