Can a cold cause dark yellow urine?

Generally speaking, a cold itself does not directly cause yellow urine. However, during a cold, factors such as reduced water intake and increased perspiration may cause darker urine, which is quite common. A detailed explanation is as follows:

When experiencing symptoms such as fever and sweating during a cold, the body's water consumption increases. If water intake is not timely replenished, urine becomes concentrated, resulting in a yellow color. Additionally, decreased appetite and changes in diet during a cold may indirectly affect urine color. Yellow urine caused by insufficient hydration is not directly triggered by the cold itself and typically returns to normal after increasing water intake.

However, it should be noted that if yellow urine during a cold is accompanied by symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency to urinate, painful urination, it may indicate a concurrent urinary tract infection rather than being solely due to the common cold. Moreover, some cold medications may alter urine color through their metabolites. This situation is related to the drug components and usually improves after discontinuation of the medication.

In daily life, it is important to stay well-hydrated during a cold, ensuring adequate water intake to prevent dehydration. Maintaining a light diet and consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables can also help promote recovery.