In the 'Symptoms - Urinary' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about foamy urine:
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When you urinate, is foam produced in the toilet? This is known as 'foamy urine'.
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Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
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"Don't know" |
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"No / extremely rarely" |
Not having foamy urine |
A symptom |
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"Occasionally foamy" |
Having foamy urine |
A symptom |
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"Frequently foamy OR occasionally very foamy" |
Having foamy urine |
A symptom |
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"Always very foamy" |
Having foamy urine |
A symptom |
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Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
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| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
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5 |
Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome |
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5 |
Gallbladder Disease |
Most people get foamy urine now and again, typically because of muco-proteins in the fish, meat or chicken that they eat. During digestion, the body doesn't break down these proteins completely, so they are expelled in the urine. As muco-proteins shoot out of the body, they momentarily come in contact with air and then with water in the toilet bowl. Foam appears because protein does not mix with air or water.
These bubbles occur most frequently in concentrated (dark) urine, like the urine that is passed right after waking up in the morning. If the urine is extremely foamy and continues all the time, there may be a problem with bile salts or the gallbladder. |
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Glomerulonephritis |
IgAN is suspected when protein and blood (visible or not) are found in the urine, and is ultimately diagnosed by biopsy. Acute IgAN is often accompanied by heavy proteinuria. Protein in the urine is not visible as such, but unusually foamy urine is often a clue to its presence. |
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Nephrotic Syndrome |
The first symptom of nephrotic syndrome is often foamy urine. |
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GLOSSARY
Acute
An illness or symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.
Bile
A bitter, yellow-green secretion of the liver. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and is released when fat enters the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) in order to aid digestion.
Biopsy
Removal of a sample of tissue from a living being for diagnosis. A pathologist later uses a microscope to look for certain features, such as cancer cells, in the sample. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy involves inserting a thin needle to remove a small amount of tissue, sometimes using CT or ultrasound to guide the needle. A core biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue with a thick needle or by inserting a thin, lighted tube (laparoscope) into a small incision in the abdomen. Another biopsy method is to remove tissue during an operation.
Gallbladder (Gall Bladder)
A small, digestive organ positioned under the liver, which concentrates and stores bile. Problems with the gallbladder often lead to gallbladder attacks, which usually occur after a fatty meal and at night. The following are the most common symptoms: steady, severe pain in the middle-upper abdomen or below the ribs on the right; pain in the back between the shoulder blades; pain under the right shoulder; nausea; vomiting; fever; chills; jaundice; abdominal bloating; intolerance of fatty foods; belching or gas; indigestion.
Protein (Proteins)
Compounds composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen present in the body and in foods that form complex combinations of amino acids. Protein is essential for life and is used for growth and repair. Foods that supply the body with protein include animal products, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Proteins from animal sources contain the essential amino acids. Proteins are changed to amino acids in the body.
Proteinuria
The presence of protein in the urine, sometimes a symptom of kidney compromise.
Syndrome
A medical condition characterized by a collection of related symptoms (what the patient feels) and signs (what a doctor can observe or measure).
Last updated: Feb 28, 2008
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