Assignment: Tea-Colored Urine

Assignment: Tea-Colored Urine
Assignment: Tea-Colored Urine
Carmelita Gomez, age 8, is brought to the Children’s Clinic by her mother because she is nauseated and has vomited three times in the past 24 hours. Her urine has turned “tea colored”. Carmelita is lethargic and she is complaining of diffuse abdominal pain. Ten days ago she had a sore throat and fever and stayed home from school for two days. She was not seen by a health care provider at that time. Upon questioning, Carmelita cannot remember needing to urinate in the past 12 hours. On exam, Carmelita is irritable and listless. She has slight periorbital edema. Carmelita has active bowel sounds with no palpable abdominal masses, but she is tender in all four quadrants. Carmelita is given a presumptive diagnosis of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), pending laboratory tests.
Her laboratory values are:
Serum creatinine: 2.3 mg/dL
BUN 26.1 mg/dL
Serum sodium: 142 mEq/L
Potassium 4.2mEq
Specific gravity 1.025
Phosphorous: 6.3 mEq/dL
Calcium: 7 mEq/dL
UA: hematuria 4+, red cell casts
Antistreptococcal antibody titre: 800U
POINTS TO PONDER:
Which lab values are abnormal?
What clinical manifestations correspond to the abnormal values?
Describe the changes (pathophysiology) in the body causing each abnormal value and link the value to a clinical manifestation present in the patient?
Which values are within normal limits?
What nursing care needs to be implemented?
Provide one nursing diagnosis appropriate to this patient.
Reading
Urinalysis p.1146 (Leeuwen, pg. 546-552)
Culture p.230
Kidney stone analysis p.696 (Leeuwen, pg. 61,265,426,444)
What is the meaning of an odd urine color?
The color of normal urine ranges from pale yellow to rich gold.
Urine with unusually colored tints might be red, orange, blue, green, or brown in hue.
A multitude of conditions might result in abnormal urine color.
It can be caused by some medications, certain meals, certain medical conditions, or being dehydrated, for example.
Make an appointment with your doctor if your pee is unusually colored and you can’t figure out what’s causing it.
Abnormal urine colors might be caused by serious medical issues that require care.
What causes a change in the color of your urine?
Urine can turn an odd hue for a variety of reasons.
Some of the causes are transient and unharmful.
The color of your urine can vary as a result of consuming particular foods or taking certain medications, for example.
Some of the causes are more significant than others.
You may, for example, be suffering from an underlying injury, infection, or other medical issue that necessitates medical attention.
Urine is a dark yellow color.
You’re probably dehydrated if your pee is only darker than usual.
The substances in your urine grow more concentrated when you don’t drink enough fluids.
It appears to be darker in hue as a result of this.
Urine that is red or pink
Urine that is red or pinkish in color can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
beets, blackberries, and rhubarb, to name a few
Rifampin (Rifadin), phenazopyridine (Pyridium), and senna-containing laxatives are examples of such drugs.
An injury, obstruction, infection, renal illness, benign prostatic enlargement, or cancer can all cause blood in your urine.
toxicity due to lead or mercury poisoning
a serious muscular injury
Urine with blood in it is a cause for concern.
It could be an indication of a major health concern, so seek medical help right away.
Urine that is orange in color
Medication, such as the following, can induce orange urine.
rifampin
phenazopyridine
laxatives
sulfasalazine is a kind of sulfasalazine that is (Azulfidine)
some anti-cancer medications
Urine can also appear orange as a result of certain medical problems.
If your feces is also light in color, it could be a symptom of problems with your bile ducts or liver.
Changes in the color of your urine should be discussed with your doctor if you’re being treated for liver disease.
Dehydration can also cause your urine to turn orange.
Urine that is blue or green
Urine with a blue or green tint can be caused by:
colorants for food
colors that are used in some kidney and bladder examinations
Indomethacin, amitriptyline, propofol, and certain multivitamins are examples of drugs and supplements.
It can be caused by a variety of things in rare circumstances, including:
a urinary tract infection caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa
a rare hereditary illness called familial benign hypercalcemia
Urine color is brown.
Brown urine can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
foods like fava beans, aloe vera, and rhubarb
Primaquine, chloroquine, nitrofurantoin (Macrobid), metronidazole (Flagyl), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and laxatives using cascara or senna are examples of drugs.
Urinary tract infections, liver problems, and kidney problems are all common.
a serious muscular injury
When should you go to the doctor?
Contact your doctor if your urine takes on an unusual hue that isn’t caused by food, medication, or dehydration.
Some of the reasons of irregular or dark-colored urine are completely innocuous.
Others are serious ailments that necessitate medical attention.
Your doctor can assist you figure out what’s causing your pee to be strangely colored.
If you think there’s blood in your urine, you should consult your doctor right away.
If you have dark brown urine, pale-colored feces, or a yellowish tinge to your skin or eyes, you should see your doctor.
What method will your doctor use to determine the cause?
Your doctor will most likely inquire about your pee.
They’ll want to know the following:
how long has the odd color been there?
if you’ve detected any strange odors
if you’ve noticed any blood clots
They’ll probably inquire if you’ve had any discomfort or other symptoms while urinating.
They may also inquire about any current medications you’re taking.
It’s critical to disclose any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re taking, as well as any herbal supplements.
Your doctor may prescribe one or more tests based on the color of your urine and other symptoms.
They will, for example, most likely take a sample of your urine to be tested in a laboratory for symptoms of infection or other abnormalities.
A sample of your blood may also be taken for testing.
They can use blood tests to see if your liver and kidneys are working normally.
An ultrasound of your urinary bladder or kidneys may also be performed by your doctor.
Sound waves are used to produce an image of your inside organs in this imaging exam.
If urinary tract stones are suspected, an abdominal and pelvic CT scan may be conducted.
Imaging studies can assist your doctor check for structural problems in your urinary system if they’re needed.
What will your therapy entail?
The treatment approach prescribed by your doctor will be determined by the cause of your irregular urine color.
Inquire with your doctor about your individual diagnosis, treatment choices, and long-term prognosis.
Simple lifestyle modifications may be all that is required in some circumstances.
If you’re dehydrated and your pee is unusually colored, start by consuming more fluids.
If certain foods are causing the strange tint, you should eat fewer of them.
Case Study Rubric
Criteria
Abnormal Values
What do the labs indicate specific to this patient