Differential Diagnosis for Tea Colored Urine

• Single most likely diagnosis
  • Dehydration: This is often the most common reason for tea-colored urine, as it concentrates the urine, giving it a darker color.
• Other Likely diagnoses
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Certain UTIs, especially those involving bacteria that produce pigments, can cause urine to appear tea-colored.
  • Kidney Stones: The presence of blood in the urine (hematuria) from kidney stones can sometimes give urine a tea-like color.
  • Medications: Certain medications, such as rifampicin, can cause urine to change color, including to a tea-colored appearance.
• Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
  • Rhabdomyolysis: This condition, where muscle tissue breaks down, can release myoglobin into the urine, causing it to appear tea-colored or brown. It's a medical emergency.
  • Hemolytic Anemia: Certain types of hemolytic anemia can lead to the release of bilirubin into the urine, giving it a tea-colored appearance. This condition can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.
• Rare diagnoses
  • Alkaptonuria: A rare genetic disorder that affects the breakdown of certain amino acids, leading to the accumulation of homogentisic acid in the body, which can cause urine to turn dark or tea-colored upon standing.
  • Porphyrias: A group of rare disorders that can lead to the accumulation of porphyrins, which may cause urine to appear colored, including tea-colored, especially when exposed to sunlight.
  • Melanuria: The presence of melanin in the urine, which can be a sign of melanoma, although extremely rare.