Bilirubin in Urine – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Tests

Are you experiencing a change in color of your urine? If your answer is in the affirmative, the probable reason might be the presence of a foreign body in the urine. There might be the presence of bilirubin in urine that is responsible for the change in the color of the urine. In case, there is a trace of Bilirubin found in the urine, the urine color will be brownish.

What Is Bilirubin In Urine?

The yellow pigment that is found in the bile juice produced by the liver is known as Bilirubin. The production of Bilirubin is normal in our body. It occurs with the breakdown of the red blood cells. The normal range as traced in blood serum ranges between 0.2 mg/dL to 1 mg/dL. It is essential to trace the bilirubin in urine.

How Bilirubin Enters In Urine?

The conjugated Bilirubin passes through the urine. If this is not the case, Bilirubin flows in your body through the red blood cells. Since Bilirubin comes out as a part of the bile, a color is imparted to the urine and feces as well. There is a further break down in the small intestine, turning into Urobilinogen and circulating in the bloodstream. Understanding of Bilirubin in urine causes, symptoms and treatments is mandatory.

Finally, Bilirubin gets excreted out in urine. When Bilirubin is traced in the urine, it indicates that there are problems with your liver or the gallbladder. But, it has been in found that in certain cases where the levels of Bilirubin in urine is high, it might be an inherited condition. The condition of jaundice is responsible for the yellowing of the eyes and skin.

When the un-conjugated Bilirubin is on the higher level, your blood serum will contain Bilirubin more than the normal range, mostly because of the non-functioning of the liver. Henceforth, jaundice also increases. Some of the usual symptoms include;

• The dark yellow color of urine
• Yellowing of skin, eyes, nail beds
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Causes Of Bilirubin In Urine

There are certain reasons behind the presence of higher levels of Bilirubin in urine. Some of the causes are given as follows.

• The presence of ulcerative colitis can be the reason behind the increase in the level of conjugated Bilirubin in urine and blood stream. There is an inflammation formed and ulcers in the rectum and the large colon and there is no smooth stool passing.
• Gallbladder obstruction is yet another cause of Bilirubin in urine. This is because the stored bile from the gallbladder is unable to move to the small intestine, reversing back to the liver and increasing the Bilirubin and thereby excreting via the urine.
• Hepatisis, the inflammatory condition of the liver is yet another reason for the increased Bilirubin level.
• The consumption of alcohol, drugs and other chemicals can increase the bilirubin and protein in urine.
• Blood poisoning can infect the bloodstream and arterial hypotension can occur. It is the septic shock that can bring a small bilirubin in urine to rise.

How To Detect The Presence Of Bilirubin In Urine?

When there is a high level of bilirubin in urine, it is a clear evidence that something is not right with your body. Some of the symptoms include;

• Abdominal pain
• Itchy skin
• Vomiting and nausea
• High fever
• Abdominal swelling
• Weakness or fatigue
• Yellowish skin

Tests To Diagnose Bilirubin In Urine

There are several tests and scans that can diagnose bilirubin traces in urine.

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Abdominal CAT scan
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
• Surgical biopsy of liver
• Liver function tests
• Hepatisis viral cultures

The levels of bilirubin in urine are influenced by your age and the overall health condition. In case, of infants, it is very important to keep a track of the bilirubin level. If the range is between 20 to 25 miligrams per deciliter can lead to serious neurological disorder. Hence, it becomes necessary to keep a check on the bilirubin in urine among infants. Bilirubin detection is the easiest via the urine.

Procedure Of The Bilirubin In Urine Detection

If you want to detect BIlirubin via urinanalysis is not complex. In fact, it is painless as well. All that you need to do is extend some time. You will be collecting urine samples for a period of 24 hours. It is recommended that you shouldn’t collect the first urine of the day, as it is more concentrated as compared to the other time of the day. After you are skipping the first urine of the day, you have to start collecting every time you are urinating. And store it in a tight, sealed container. Bilirubin in urine during pregnancy is a good thing and it must be kept in check so that it doesn’t become serious.

Treatment For Bilirubin In Urine

During the initial phase of hepatitis, the doctor will prescribe you with antiviral and antibiotic drugs in order to curb the infection. Furthermore, liver transplantation is recommended in case the liver is permanently damaged. In case of gallstone the reason behind the rising bilirubin level in urine, medications are available to control it. Lithotripsy is one of the effective treatments. Bilirubin in urine causes, symptoms are necessary to be tracked for the right diagnosis of the problem and further medication.