Why does hepatitis A cause dark urine?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that inflames the liver. A healthy liver processes bilirubin, a yellow pigment made when old red blood cells are broken down. When inflammation disrupts that process, bilirubin can build up in blood and pass into urine. Urine may then look tea-coloured or brown rather than its usual yellow.

Dark Urine is a very common presentation of Hepatitis A. Dark urine can also occur with dehydration, medicines, foods, blood in the urine, and other liver or urinary problems.

Contact a clinician promptly if dark urine occurs with yellow eyes or skin, pale stools, nausea, fatigue, fever, or abdominal discomfort. They can assess liver symptoms and arrange appropriate blood tests. Drink fluids if you can, but do not assume that darker urine is dehydration when other symptoms are present.

Avoid alcohol and check with a clinician or pharmacist before using non-prescription medicines or supplements while liver inflammation is being assessed. Take a list of everything you have recently taken to your appointment.

Seek urgent help for confusion, extreme drowsiness, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, fainting, bleeding, or an inability to drink enough fluid. Urgent assessment is also appropriate if yellowing or dark urine appears suddenly and you feel significantly unwell.

Ask what may be causing the colour change, which liver tests are needed, and which medicines or supplements to avoid. Ask how to reduce the chance of passing a suspected infection to people in your household.