Dangers of Foamy Urine

Foamy urine can indeed occur at any time and is considered normal if only occasionally. Unlike the case, if foamy urine occurs continuously because, in fact, it can be an indication of certain serious illnesses.

Normal urine is generally pale yellow to dark yellow with slight changes in aroma, texture, and color, depending on the food or medicine being consumed. While foamy urine can occasionally just be a sign of full bladder so that urine flows quickly and bubbly when expelled.

However, you should consult a doctor if you are constantly passing foamy urine. This condition can be a symptom of proteinuria or the presence of protein in the urine. High levels of protein in the urine can then be one indication of a serious disturbance in the kidneys. Foam appears because the protein in the urine reacts with air.

Protein in the urine can be caused by diseases of the glomerulus, Fanconi's syndrome, an increase in the quantity of protein in the serum, excess fluid consumption, and side effects of drugs containing bevacizumab that are used in cancer treatment.

Under normal conditions, the kidneys filter out waste products and excess water in the body to then be excreted through urine. But due to kidney disorders, the screening process does not work properly so that the protein leaks and enters the urine. This condition, called proteinuria, indicates chronic kidney disease or end-stage kidney disease. You are more at risk of developing kidney disease especially if there is a history of kidney disease in your family history, suffering from high blood pressure, or diabetes.

In other cases, foamy urine can also be caused by retrograde ejaculation, when male semen is not released through the penis but rises into the bladder. This situation can be triggered by diabetes, nerve damage due to spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, prostate or urethral surgery, and/or consumption of drugs to treat high blood pressure or prostate enlargement.

In addition, consumption of certain drugs, such as phenazopyridine to treat urinary tract infections, can also cause foamy urine. Sometimes, foamy urine can be caused by bilirubinuria or bilirubin levels in urine as well.

Further tests are needed to detect the exact cause of foamy urine. Therefore, consult a doctor immediately, especially if foaming urine occurs continuously and/or accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• Loss of appetite.
• Fatigue.
• Accumulation of fluid in the hands, feet, stomach to the face due to kidney disorders.
• Hard to sleep.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Changes in urine color and volume, especially if the urine turns cloudy or darker.

The diagnosis of the cause of foamy urine will then be determined based on the examination of protein levels in the urine sample. If your urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is more than 30 mg / g, then there is a possibility that you have kidney disease. This condition will then be confirmed again by undergoing another test. If retrograde ejaculation is suspected to be the cause of urinating foam, the doctor will check whether there is sperm in the urine.

Handling foamy urine will depend on the underlying cause. If it is caused by kidney disease, the doctor will provide treatment to alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Frequent diabetes and high blood pressure are triggers of kidney damage. Therefore, doctors can advise patients to start exercising regularly and eating healthy foods. Consumption of drugs that cause foamy urine should also be consulted by a doctor to find alternatives.

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