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Medical News Today

Medical News Today

What Can Cause Low Urine Output?

What Can Cause Low Urine Output?

Whether temporary or chronic, oliguria can signal underlying health conditions. Learn what might be causing your low urine output.


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The book Common Surgical Diseases defines low urine output, also known as oliguria, as an output of 13.5 fluid ounces (400 ml) daily. Causes of low urine output can be simple and easily addressed, or they can be more complex and serious, such as underlying health issues that require immediate attention. The following are possible causes of low urine output and what they mean.*

What are the causes of oliguria?

Some possible causes of low urine output include:

  • Dehydration
  • Urinary tract blockages
  • Infections or trauma
  • Medications
  • Kidney failure

Dehydration

Dehydration is a common cause of oliguria, and occurs when your body is:

  • Not receiving enough liquid from your diet
  • Releasing too much liquid
  • Releasing liquid too fast for you to adequately replace it

Only about a 3% loss of body weight in water is necessary to start experiencing dehydration. 

You lose fluids naturally just by breathing, sweating, crying, spitting, and urinating. Dehydration is also common when you have an illness that includes fever, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. When you’re sick, the body attempts to retain fluid by reducing urine output. Children and elderly adults are particularly vulnerable to dehydration. 

Mild dehydration can be addressed by sipping water and clear broth and eating liquid-rich foods, such as fruits. Your doctor may also suggest beverages enriched with electrolytes. Severe dehydration may require a trip to the hospital to receive fluids intravenously. 

Urinary tract blockages

Blockages that prevent urine from exiting the body can have various causes, such as:

  • Kidney stones
  • An enlarged prostate gland
  • Congenital structural abnormalities 
  • Blood clots in your urinary tract
  • Nerve damage in or near the bladder
  • Cervical, prostate, colon, or bladder cancer

Blockages may cause additional symptoms including:

  • Abdominal swelling
  • Fever
  • Vomiting, and
  • Unexplained pains. 

Imaging tests will likely be required to diagnose a blockage, and treatment options will depend on the underlying cause(s).

Infections or trauma

Oliguria can also result from:

  • Severe infections, such as sepsis 
  • Blood loss 
  • Allergies and anaphylactic shock
  • Traumatic injuries, including severe burns

These can send the body into shock, which restricts blood flow to the kidneys, impairing their ability to produce urine. Shock requires immediate emergency care.

Medications

Some medications can also cause low urine output and are potentially harmful to your kidneys. 

Make sure you properly hydrate if you are taking:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Aminoglycoside antibiotics
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • Contrast agents
  • Chemotherapy drugs and immunosuppressants

People at high risk for kidney injury or disease, especially those with diabetes mellitus and/or high blood pressure, should have their kidney function closely monitored by their doctor. 

Kidney failure

Low urine output is also a common indicator of kidney failure. Kidney failure generally occurs as the result of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which progresses over many years or as a result of sudden, traumatic kidney injury. If you have advanced kidney disease or kidney failure, you will likely need to restrict your fluid intake. Your doctor and dietician will help you adjust your diet appropriately.

When should I see a doctor?

Not every case of low urine output is a cause for concern, but underlying medical conditions need to be addressed, and a total loss of urine output (anuria) can lead to permanent kidney damage. If you experience long-term low urine output or a complete loss of urine output, contact your healthcare provider.

*Johnson, J. (2019, June 6). What to Know About Low Urine Output. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325398 

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