Colorless urine as a sign of renal pathology. clear urine

Together with urine, all products of metabolic processes are excreted from the body. It contains a large list of chemicals and pigments that determine the color of the liquid. Any changes in its shade indicate deviations in the work of internal organs and systems. Light urine is the least common. Such a problem may be due to natural causes, but often it becomes a symptom of a dangerous disease.

What color of urine is considered normal?

In an adult leading a full-fledged lifestyle, urine should be straw or amber in color. The color of urine excreted in an adult depends on the influence of various factors: the amount of fluid consumed, diet, physical activity, climatic living conditions, and even time of day. During the day, urine has a less saturated hue. In the morning, it has the highest concentration of pigments, and therefore it becomes darker. In athletes, it always has a rich color, which is associated with an accelerated process of destruction of red blood cells.

If the deviation in color is insignificant and is not accompanied by other striking symptoms, the drinking regimen and diet should be adjusted, bad habits and excessive exercise should be abandoned. After a couple of days, the condition should return to normal. Otherwise, you need to see a doctor.

In children, the biological fluid is much lighter than in adults. In the first week after birth, urine without color and odor is considered natural. This is due to the fact that the urinary system is not yet able to function at full capacity. In the first months of life, the baby feeds on mother's milk containing a large amount of water. Because of this, the urine of the child has a pale yellow, almost transparent color.

Reasons not related to the disease

Often the answer to the question of why urine is colorless, like water, lies in the impact of adverse factors not associated with the disease. The causes of the problem may be as follows:

Drinking excessive amounts of liquid. Normally, a person should drink about 2 liters of water per day. If this volume is exceeded significantly, the kidneys begin to work with a double intensity. As a result, not only toxins are removed from the body, but also useful substances, which lead to malfunctions in the functioning of organs and systems. An increased amount of liquid makes the urine light yellow, almost colorless.
There are many foods in the diet that have a diuretic effect. These include watermelons, cucumbers, coffee, tea.
Pregnancy. Colorless urine in women is a sign that conception has occurred. After fertilization of the egg, the kidneys begin to work more intensively, as an increased load on the body is created. Urine is too light and under the influence of early-onset toxicosis, as it provokes dehydration. Also, light urine urine should be in position in women due to the fact that the uterus presses on the bladder. Under the influence of this, frequent urination develops, urine does not have time to concentrate and acquire a yellow color.
Colorless urine in men can appear after a large amount of seminal fluid enters the urethra. This phenomenon is not considered a pathology, after a few hours the condition returns to normal.
One of the reasons why urine becomes white as water is a person's long stay in a stressful situation. Psychological and mental overload often provoke malfunctions in the work of internal organs and systems, as well as frequent urination, which provokes dehydration.
White urine, which means problems with the urinary system, often appears against the background of hypothermia. This problem is often faced by girls who have sat on a cold surface, for example, on a stone. The condition should return to normal within three days.
A similar problem is faced by people who use drugs with a strong diuretic effect. Such causes do not threaten human health. It is enough to eliminate the unfavorable factor, and the state of urine will return to normal.

Urine can drastically change its yellow color to very pale or, on the contrary, dark with excessive drinking. Therefore, with the manifestation of negative symptoms, it is first of all necessary to abandon bad habits.

Possible pathologies

People often turn to a specialist about whether it is good or bad when the urine is light. In fact, any deviation from the norm is considered a reason to undergo a full medical examination. The causes of colorless urine may lie in the development of the following diseases:

Diabetes. This disease is associated with a violation of metabolic processes, leading to improper absorption of glucose. At the same time, urine becomes transparent and acquires a pronounced sweet smell. The discovery of such a symptom is a reason to immediately consult a doctor.
Diabetes insipidus is a chronic disease of the endocrine system, which is accompanied by insufficient production of the hormone vasopressin in the body. It is characterized by frequent urination and constant agonizing thirst. Such symptoms provoke an increased intake of liquid by a person, from which urine loses its color.
Renal failure. Another reason why urine is transparent is a pathology in which the organ loses its functionality. If adequate treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, then serious health consequences develop.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare autoimmune disease. It is accompanied by the production of large portions of albumin, from which urine clarification occurs.
Incontinence. This problem is more common in older women. It is associated with weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. In severe cases, urine does not stay in the bladder. It is very difficult to control urination. This leads to dehydration of the body and, as a result, the use of a person more fluid.

Transparent urine in men and women can be observed due to congenital pathologies of the structure of the organs of the genitourinary system. In this case, a similar symptom will accompany a person from childhood.

Diagnostics

It is possible to say for sure whether it is good or bad if the urine is colorless only after passing a full medical examination.

To make an accurate diagnosis, specialists resort to the following diagnostic measures:

Patient interview and history taking. This allows you to identify factors that could cause the urine to become clear, like water. In this case, special treatment is not needed, it is enough to eliminate the adverse effects on the body of external factors and the state of health is normalized.
Examination of urine samples. Its physical properties and chemical composition are evaluated. Only morning urine is suitable for analysis. You need to urinate immediately after waking up and collect the liquid in a clean jar. Before the onset of urination, the toilet of the genital organs must be carried out. After that, it is important to deliver it to the laboratory as soon as possible. This will help eliminate the possibility of getting erroneous results.
Blood test for sugar and hormone levels. It allows you to eliminate the likelihood of diabetes and some other diseases.
Radiography or ultrasound of the genitourinary system. With the help of such examinations, it is possible to identify structural changes in tissues, as well as the presence of structural anomalies.
Computed or magnetic resonance imaging. These techniques allow you to study any organ in detail. With the help of special equipment, it is possible to obtain images in all possible projections.

Based on all the data collected, the specialist will be able to explain what the change in urine color means and make an accurate diagnosis. If necessary, an endocrinologist, gynecologist, gastroenterologist is consulted. Only then can a treatment program be developed.

Therapy

After specialists have been able to determine what it means, when the yellowish color of the urine has become significantly lighter, appropriate treatment will be required. The therapy program will be determined by the characteristics of the identified disease. The following methods are applied:

Taking medications. If the urine is discolored due to diabetes, hypoglycemic medications are prescribed, and in some cases insulin injections are given. In renal failure, special medications are required, for example, Furosemide, Epovitan, Mannitol.
Restoration of the correct drinking regimen.
Diet adjustment. Preference is given to fruits and vegetables and reducing the intake of protein foods.
Physiotherapy. Sufficient physical activity stimulates metabolic processes in the body, improves the functioning of all internal organs and systems.
Physiotherapy. Plasmaphoresis, electrophoresis, ozone therapy and other methods are more often used.
Hemodialysis. It is carried out only if the urine has become light due to kidney failure. When an organ completely loses its functionality, its role in the body needs to be replenished.

Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. To control the effectiveness of the chosen technique, repeated tests will be required.

Before using medicines, carefully read the instructions. With the manifestation of any side effects, the use of the medication is stopped and be sure to consult with your doctor.

Drinking regime

If the urine has become transparent, first of all it is necessary to normalize the drinking regimen. You need to drink about two liters of water per day. Better if it is mineral. Easy-to-prepare drinks will also help restore the water balance in the body:

In two liters of water, mix 100 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 grams of sea salt and 10 grams of natural honey. Such a cocktail must be drunk throughout the day in equal portions.
A good effect is the use of rosehip decoction. A handful of dried berries are poured into a thermos and poured with boiling water. Steam for at least 8 hours. Such a drink should be drunk instead of the usual tea. A little honey is added to improve its taste.
In a liter of water, stir two tablespoons of orange, lime and lemon juices. Add 5 grams of sea salt and mix thoroughly.

The use of citrus-based drinks is contraindicated in case of increased acidity of gastric juice and some other diseases. Therefore, before using them, you should consult your doctor.

Proper nutrition

Very light urine often means nutritional errors.

When compiling a daily menu, follow a few simple recommendations:

The diet should contain lean meats. Cooking dishes from them need to be steamed or in the oven. It is better to refuse a gift.
Benefits include eating fish, grains, legumes, vegetables, herbs, chicken eggs, fruits, seeds, and nuts.
Give up tea, coffee, sweet soda, alcoholic beverages.
Reduce your salt intake.

Nutrition should be balanced and varied. Eat small meals at least five times a day. After the disease is cured and the color of the urine returns to normal, diets must be followed for several more months.

Prevention

The allocation of clear urine often becomes a consequence of the disease. To prevent its development, you need to follow a few elementary rules of prevention:

Give up bad habits.
Lead an active lifestyle. Try to spend more time outdoors, walk in the parks, go in for sports, start every morning with light gymnastics.
Don't hold back urination. Urinate as soon as you feel like going to the toilet. Prolonged stagnation of urine in the bladder leads to the development of an inflammatory process.
Avoid hypothermia. Do not sit on cold objects, try not to get caught in the rain, always dress for the weather.

If the appearance of clear urine is not accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, you need to adjust your lifestyle and diet. After a couple of days, the condition should return to normal. When this does not happen, it is important to contact the clinic as soon as possible and undergo a medical examination.

The color of urine is an important diagnostic characteristic of the state of the excretory system. Colorless urine may be the result of taking diuretic drugs, a change in drinking regimen, or a serious illness. The shade directly depends on the amount of urine.

Why is urine colorless?

Urine in an adult healthy person is transparent. The most common cause of color loss is the consumption of large amounts of water or foods that have a diuretic effect (tea, coffee, watermelon). A lot of urine stands out, it is odorless, transparent, almost colorless, like water. This increases the urge to urinate. Refusal of increased fluid intake leads to the return of normal urine characteristics. If this did not happen, the reason is different.

Diseases

If, after reducing fluid intake and changing the diet, polyuria (increased urine output) persists and the normal color of urine does not return, this may be a sign of a systemic disease - diabetes mellitus. Everything happens due to a violation of water reabsorption in the renal tubules. A sign of diabetes is a sweet smell or acetone in the urine.

Diabetes insipidus (diabetes insipidus) is characterized by polyuria and colorless urine due to the large amount of fluid consumed and the short residence time of the excreta in the urinary tract.

The cause of frequent urination and changes in the color of urine may be diseases of the urinary system:

Renal failure is often accompanied by polyuria as a result of a violation of all organ functions. In this case, morning urine becomes colorless.
Cystitis is accompanied by frequent urination due to inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the organ cavity. Despite the absence of polyuria, the excretion is often discolored due to the short residence time in the bladder.
With urolithiasis, colorless urine is a consequence of stones in the kidneys and ureters.

Colorless urine can become with hepatitis. Often the disease is accompanied by darkening of the urine due to the ingress of bilirubin and other liver pigments into it. But at the initial stage, there may be a loss of pigmentation due to a violation of the secretory, excretory and other functions of the liver.

Preparations

A change in the shade of urine can be caused by the use of certain medications. First of all, these are diuretics - diuretics that increase portions and frequency of urination. The excretion does not have time to stain the excretion products in the usual shade due to a short stay in the urinary tract with frequent urination.

Ethanol can be a factor in the appearance of colorless urine. Due to the use of drugs based on it, the amount and wateriness of urine increases. But during the withdrawal syndrome, it acquires a dark shade.

Nutrition

Colorless urine and impaired water-salt metabolism may be the result of eating foods that stimulate the mucous membranes of the urinary system and at the same time irritate them. These are strong alcoholic drinks, chocolate, some spices, synthetic sweeteners.

Large volumes of liquid drunk per day provoke discoloration and increased urination.

A large amount of plant fibers in food becomes a source of overactive bladder. This results in colorless urine.

Alcohol intake inhibits the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, which leads to increased diuresis. Salts are concentrated in the blood, which provokes thirst, increased water intake, polyuria.

The shade of urine depends on the amount of salt entering the body. Violation of the sodium balance can be the cause of both oliguria and polyuria with loss of staining.

Features of manifestation

The chemical composition, color and smell of urine depend on the functioning of all systems and organs of the body. Failure of any of them can lead to a change in these characteristics.

The light yellow color of the excreta is due to the content of urobilin in it, a product of the breakdown of hemes. Adult urine has a more intense color.

Colorless urine in men

If the urine suddenly became colorless, and after a few hours the color returned to normal, then, most likely, seminal fluid entered the urethra.

Colorless urine in women

In women, colorless urine often appears with cystitis and its complications, causing increased diuresis.

In addition, women are more likely than men to suffer from diabetes, which causes color loss.

Clear urine during pregnancy

The most common cause of colorless excretion in women is pregnancy. Most often, this phenomenon accompanies toxicosis: dehydration of the body provokes the use of more fluid and, as a result, increased urination. Urine becomes colorless due to the lack of pigments in it. Also, during pregnancy, diseases of the genitourinary system are often exacerbated, which certainly affects the color of the excretion product.

The child has

The absence of color in the excretion of the excretory system in infants is the norm. This is due to the fact that children before the first complementary foods are fed only with mother's milk or formula. In addition, due to the imperfection of the excretory system, up to 25 urinations per day are recorded in infants. Up to 3 months of age, the kidneys in babies secrete 90 ml of colorless excretion per 1 kg of weight. If after 3 months of age and with the start of complementary foods, the urine has not ceased to be colorless, there is a reason to consult a doctor.

After 2 years, the number of urination is reduced to 10 times a day, the amount of urine is up to 60 ml per 1 kg of weight and less. In children under 10 years of age, normal urine has a light yellow tint. By the age of 10, the amount of daily urine is reduced to 25 ml per 1 kg of weight, it acquires a straw-yellow color, like in adults. Such changes in pigmentation indicate the normal development of the excretory system.

If, after 8 months, the child's excretion has not acquired a light yellow tint, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician to exclude such pathologies as:

nephritis, pyelonephritis, renal failure;
anomalies in the development or anatomical structure of the excretory system;
metabolic disease.

In children older than 10 years, any changes may indicate the same pathologies as in adults. In adolescents during puberty, hormonal fluctuations influence the appearance of colorless urine. In the absence of developmental pathologies, such changes are of a short-term nature and disappear within 3-5 days.

What to do about urine discoloration

If the discoloration of the excretion product is temporary, there is no special need to consult a doctor. Most likely, colorless urine was provoked by a temporary increase in diuresis due to a change in diet or drinking regimen. If the state of health does not cause concern, before consulting a doctor, it is necessary to conduct several tests: measure the daily amount of excretion and change in its transparency over several days.

If colorless urine is accompanied by polyuria for a long time and at the same time the general state of health worsens, it is worth contacting a doctor as soon as possible to identify the sources of this condition.

197 Urine color

What do urine tests say?

SOS signals of our body. Blood in the urine

If we are talking about children or pregnant women, you need to consult a doctor for any deviations from the norm.

Changes in the color of urine can tell a lot, for example, about the baby's diet, medicines used by the crumbs, or various diseases. But what if the child's urine suddenly becomes discolored and looks like water? Is it dangerous and is it a sign of illness?

What color should be normal?

The color of urine is affected by the content of pigments called urochromes. The color of urine in healthy babies is yellow, while the color intensity can be from a very light yellow tint to a very saturated one. The more pigments in the child's urine, the more intense the color of the liquid. At the same time, in the morning, the baby's urine will be darker, as it is concentrated during a night's sleep.

Urine in children should normally be yellow.

Possible reasons

The appearance of discolored urine in a child can be caused by:

Drinking large amounts of fluids, as well as foods that contain a lot of water (for example, watermelon). The kidneys have to excrete the resulting fluid in a larger amount, which causes clarification of the urine.
Diabetes insipidus. One of its symptoms is increased thirst, and since water enters the body in excess, it is excreted in more quantity, and there are fewer pigments in the urine.
Diabetes. This disease is also characterized by constant thirst, and the kidneys try to help in the excretion of glucose, so they work more actively.
Renal insufficiency. As a result of the disease, the function of the kidneys is impaired, so the fluid needed by the body is not absorbed back into the kidneys, which threatens with dehydration.
The use of diuretics. Urine leaves the bladder faster than it is saturated with pigments.

If you are sure that the clarification of urine is not associated with large fluid intake, you should consult a doctor.

When should you go to the doctor?

If the child's urine has become very pale, almost transparent, like water, while the volume of urine excreted has increased, the child should definitely be shown to a specialist.

It should be noted that for the urine of an infant, a pale color is a variant of the norm, because in the first months after birth, kidney function is only being formed, and the baby receives only mother's milk or a mixture for food.

If the child excreted yellow urine, and then it suddenly brightened, it is worth going with the baby to the pediatrician. The doctor will send the baby for clinical blood and urine tests, and, if necessary, for other studies, as well as an examination by a nephrologist or endocrinologist.

The human body is very complex, because various systems and organs interact in unison so that a person is healthy and active. The urinary system is one of the most important structures in the body. It helps to get rid of excess fluid, pathogenic bacteria and allows you to determine in a timely manner whether there is a threat to health. However, some people become worried when they see translucent urine. Consider whether it is worth immediately going to the doctor or whether this condition is provoked by factors that are safe for health.

Why is human urine colorless like water

The color of human urine, medically referred to as urine, varies depending on many factors, but most often due to excessive fluid intake. Normally, it has a straw-yellow hue and does not contain impurities, blood inclusions and turbidity.

Clear urine can appear not only in a sick person, but also in a completely healthy person. This is due to the fact that a person drinks a lot of liquid, which causes frequent urge to urinate, and the urine does not have time to be saturated with substances that color it in a normal shade. Naturally, there is nothing pathological in this and, as a result of a decrease in the daily dose of water, the color of the urine is restored.

What causes urine discoloration:

Products containing a large amount of liquid: watermelons, cucumbers.
Tea, coffee, carbonated drinks.

Also, urine can become significantly lighter if, in addition to everything, a person consumes a lot of liquid soups or borscht. To make sure that urine does not have a pathological source, you should reduce the amount of these products in the diet and, if this does not help, immediately go to a specialist, because frequent urination provokes the leaching of useful substances, salts and minerals from the body, which leads to depletion of the body.

What does urine color mean?

If, after adjusting the diet, urine has not returned to normal, then it usually indicates health problems. It is important to take into account not only the color, but also the smell, whether it contains any impurities, turbidity.

Characteristics of urine, starting from its color:

Clarified urine with a sweet smell can be a symptom of diabetes. If, within 2 weeks from the moment of reducing the amount of fluid consumed, the state of urine has not returned to normal, then medical assistance and a thorough diagnosis are necessary. Also, this color of urine is observed during pregnancy, so women need to confirm or exclude this factor.
Brown urine indicates a lack of fluid. You should increase the daily intake of drinking to stabilize the color of urine.
Bright yellow urine is a sign of an oversaturation of the body with vitamin B.
Dark or bright red urine can occur exclusively as a result of eating food that can color it in a given shade, for example: beetroot, mulberry. However, if the redness of the urine occurred without the influence of food or red juices, this may indicate a threat to health.

Of course, if the change in urine color is not observed constantly, this is not dangerous to health. However, if impurities, turbidity are noticeable in it, or it is released with pain, a fetid odor, you should immediately consult a doctor and determine the source of the change in urine.

Pathological causes of clear urine

It happens that suddenly changing urine is the only sign of the onset of pathology. It is necessary to raise an alarm if it changes for no apparent reason, even if at first glance the changes seem frivolous.

Clarified urine can be a sign of such pathologies:

Insufficiency of the kidneys or liver.
Blockage of the urinary system or narrowing of the ducts.
Diabetes insipidus or sugar type. Such pathologies can become fatal for a person, therefore, they require immediate detection and adequate therapy.
Hepatitis A. The disease is viral in nature and is interpreted as inflammation of the liver. It is easily transmitted, therefore, it threatens not only the patient, but also the people around him.

It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis without a laboratory test, so you should immediately consult a doctor and take tests. The earlier a violation is detected, the easier the therapy will be.

Changes in the color of urine in children

In infants, urine may be translucent all the time, and this is not a pathological sign. This is due to the fact that babies eat exclusively milk. After the introduction of other products into the diet, urine can acquire a straw-yellow color, which indicates the normal functioning of the urinary system. However, if the child has already grown up, and his urine has brightened for no apparent reason, it is required to immediately take him to the doctor in order to conduct a complete diagnosis of the body.

Light urine in women

In women, discoloration can occur not only due to pathological diseases, but also due to pregnancy.

This is due to:

Change in hormonal balance.
Increasing the daily dose of drinking.

As a result, urine becomes like water, which in the first place encourages you to buy a test and get tested. In addition, in women in a delicate position, the body weakens, and diseases of the urinary tract and kidneys can become aggravated.

Colorless urine in men

In men, urine can darken for the same reasons as the urine of women and children. However, sometimes it happens for seemingly no reason. It has been noticed that if sperm enters the urinary canal, then it reacts with the substances contained in the urine, and then its discoloration occurs. In this case, urine is not dangerous to the health of a man and its color returns to normal after 2-3 hours. However, if the clarification of urine occurred due to pathology, then it will not change, even after 6 hours.

Other urine changes

Laboratory assistants examining urine usually pay attention not only to its color, but also to its transparency and smell.

If such changes are detected, it is required to immediately go to the local therapist:

cloudy urine. A similar change in urine appears due to the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the urinary canal. In some cases, it indicates an increased immune activity or insufficient hygiene. Only a doctor can understand why the urine has become cloudy, evaluating the results of the study.
Bad smell of urine. Such a change, combined with discoloration of the urine, indicates diseases of the urinary or digestive system.
Pain when passing urine. Appear during the inflammatory process in the bladder and excretory system (urethritis, cystitis).

The most terrible change in the urine is the appearance of blood impurities in it. This indicates internal bleeding of the urinary or kidneys. Therefore, if such changes in urine occur, it is required to immediately go to the doctor to avoid kidney stones, their insufficiency and other problems with the functionality of the urinary system.

What to do if urine brightens for no reason

It is strictly forbidden to take any medications without passing a laboratory test and medical consultation, because in addition to the color, consistency and smell of urine, there are other criteria that allow you to clarify the diagnosis.

If studies have confirmed the presence of kidney disease, then doctors usually draw up a therapeutic regimen based on the use of such drugs:

Painkillers: No-shpa, Mebeverin, Drotaverin.
Stone dissolvers (if kidney stones are detected): Cystenal, Cyston, Kanefron.
Analgesics: Indomethacin, Ibuprofen.
Diuretic: Aldactone, Furosemide.
Antibiotics: Metacycline, Morphocycline.

You should not buy these medicines without consulting your doctor, because they have side effects and contraindications for use!

People with diabetes are categorically contraindicated in self-medication, because the therapy of such patients is aimed at the use of drugs containing insulin. In addition, diabetics are shown a diet that prohibits eating seasonings, spices, fatty, spicy, fried foods, and smoked meats. The diet should contain as many dairy products, fruits, vegetables, juices as possible. With this treatment, urine may become discolored, but this will not affect the current condition of the patient and will not cause complications.

Treatment for people with diabetes is based on the following factors:

Therapy of diseases identified by laboratory and instrumental methods.
Determination of the daily norm of liquid.
Restoration of vitamin and mineral balance.
Nutrition corrections.
Reducing the amount of salt consumed.

Therefore, a change in the color of urine is not always a sign of a developing pathology. Therefore, before raising a panic, you should try to change the nutritious diet and reduce the amount of fluid consumed. If these measures did not help, then you should immediately go to a specialist in order to get rid of the disease in time.

At the sight of which every person should be uplifted and enthusiastic, it is straw yellow. And the coloring of this familiar product (the result of the process) of nutrition depends on pigments, which are products of bilirubin metabolism and are called urochromes. Dark, red, cloudy urine is rightfully a cause for concern.

However, the absence of color in urine should also disturb a person who is attentive to his health. It is likely that this is a sign of a formidable disease. Colorless or pale urine has a low density and is usually excreted in in large numbers.It is not a sin to consult a doctor here.

Thus, the color becomes more intense, with an increase in the concentration of urochromes in it, and vice versa. A decrease in the concentration of urochromes in the urine may be due to an increased amount of fluid produced by the kidneys. With a low concentration of pigments in the urine, the human eye evaluates this product as transparent and colorless.

Causes of clarification of urine

Therefore, clear urine can be considered normal when the body is saturated with fluid. If you consume a lot of liquid or products containing liquid (watermelons), the body has to get rid of excess water with the help of the kidneys, while the urine becomes noticeably lighter, up to a watery shade.

Another reason for a sharp clarification of urine can be diabetes insipidus, when a person drinks a lot and, accordingly, releases a lot of urine. In this disease, the cause of light urine is still the same - a low concentration of pigments due to a large amount of water.

There is another very disturbing cause of watery urine. This is kidney failure, which occurs as a result of chronic and sometimes acute kidney disease, when the concentration ability of the kidneys is impaired and they are not able to take the necessary fluid from the urine. This condition can end fatally.