What disease causes yellow urine?
Aug 20, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Guang
Introduction
Yellow urine does not necessarily indicate illness. When inflammation occurs in the gallbladder, bile excretion is obstructed, leading to bile stasis and the backflow of bilirubin into the bloodstream, which increases bilirubin levels in the urine and causes dark yellow urine. This condition is often accompanied by symptoms such as right upper abdominal pain and nausea. Doctors may prescribe medications such as Xiaoyan Lidan tablets, Cefixime capsules, or Ursodeoxycholic acid capsules.
Yellow urine does not necessarily indicate illness. It may result from insufficient water intake, consumption of certain foods, urinary tract infections, cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), or biliary obstruction. If abnormalities persist, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Insufficient water intake: When the body lacks sufficient water, urine becomes concentrated, increasing the relative concentration of urochrome (urine pigment), which causes the urine to appear yellow. Increasing water consumption and maintaining adequate daily hydration can gradually return urine color to normal.
2. Consumption of certain foods: Carrots contain high levels of carotene. When consumed in large amounts, some carotene may not be fully metabolized and absorbed by the body and is excreted through urine, causing dark yellow urine. Reducing intake of such foods can improve urine color.
3. Urinary tract infection: Pathogens such as bacteria invading the urinary tract can cause infection. Inflammatory irritation may alter urine composition, resulting in yellow urine, often accompanied by symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination. Doctors may prescribe medications such as levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules, cefuroxime axetil tablets, or amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium tablets.
4. Cholecystitis: When the gallbladder becomes inflamed, bile excretion is obstructed, causing bile stasis and reflux of bilirubin into the bloodstream, which increases bilirubin levels in urine and causes yellow urine. This is often accompanied by right upper abdominal pain, nausea, and other symptoms. Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory and bile-promoting medications such as Xiaoyan Lidan tablets, cefixime capsules, or ursodeoxycholic acid capsules.
5. Biliary obstruction: When the bile duct is blocked by stones, tumors, or other causes, bile cannot flow normally into the intestines, leading to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood and increased bilirubin excretion in urine, causing yellow urine. Symptoms may also include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and sclera). Medications such as Xiaoyan Lidan tablets, chenodeoxycholic acid capsules, or ursodeoxycholic acid capsules may be used under medical guidance.
In daily life, it is important to develop good hydration habits, maintain a balanced diet, avoid excessive consumption of certain foods, and practice good personal hygiene to prevent infections.
