Little urination: causes, symptoms and treatment of oliguria

1. The medical term for little urination is oliguria. Little urination may be accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, burning sensation when urinating and (a lot of) sweating. That depends on the cause. Oliguria indicates decreased urine excretion. The normal amount of urine per day, which is 1000 to 1500 ml, can drop considerably for various reasons. Normally, this could simply be due to too little fluid supply (too little drinking). In some cases, oliguria can also be due to serious illnesses such as renal insufficiency (kidney failure), which are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

2. The medical term for little urination is oliguria. Little urination may be accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, burning sensation when urinating and (a lot of) sweating. That depends on the cause. Oliguria indicates decreased urine excretion. The normal amount of urine per day, which is 1000 to 1500 ml, can drop considerably for various reasons. Normally, this could simply be due to an insufficient amount of fluid supply (too little drinking). In some cases, oliguria can also be due to serious illnesses such as renal insufficiency (kidney failure), which are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

What is oliguria?

1. Most healthy people can hold their urine until the bladder contains about 800 ml of urine. The average person produces 1500 ml of urine per day, with the frequency of urination depending on a number of factors. Most adults urinate 5 to 8 times a day with a fluid intake of 1.5 to 2 liters per day. If you only need to urinate three to four times a day and the amounts of urine are extremely small, it is called oliguria (little urination). The amount of urine excreted daily is approximately between 100 and 600 milliliters. In addition, there is polyuria, a condition in which you have to urinate excessively (urinating a lot) and pollakiuria, an increase in the number of urination per day without an increase in the amount of urine produced daily (frequent urination)

2. Most healthy people can hold their urine until the bladder contains about 800 ml of urine. The average person produces 1500 ml of urine per day, with the frequency of urination depending on a number of factors. Most adults urinate 5 to 8 times a day with a fluid intake of about 1.5 to 2 liters per day. If you only need to urinate three to four times a day and the amounts of urine are extremely small, it is called oliguria (little urination). The amount of urine excreted daily is approximately between 100 and 600 milliliters. In addition, there is polyuria, a condition in which you have to urinate excessively (urinating a lot) and pollakiuria, an increase in the number of voids per day without increasing the amount of urine produced daily (frequent urination)

Little urination during pregnancy

1. When it comes to how often you need to urinate during pregnancy, pregnant women often go to the toilet a little more than usual to urinate. Men and non-pregnant women usually go to the toilet to urinate 4 to 10 times a day and this frequency may be slightly higher during pregnancy. However, if you feel remarkably little urge to urinate (while drinking enough), this could also be a sign of pre-eclampsia or preeclampsia (the combination of high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein loss through the urine (proteinuria) in the pregnant woman) and / or HELLP syndrome

2. When it comes to how often you need to urinate during pregnancy, pregnant women often go to the toilet a little more than usual to urinate. Men and non-pregnant women usually go to the toilet to urinate four to ten times a day, and this frequency may be slightly higher during pregnancy. However, if you feel remarkably little urge to urinate (while drinking enough), this could also be a sign of pre-eclampsia or preeclampsia (the combination of high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein loss through the urine (proteinuria) in the pregnant woman) and / or HELLP syndrome

Consult a doctor

1. If you urinate little, you should consult a doctor, especially if it lasts for several days. If a maximum of 500 milliliters is excreted in the course of a day despite normal fluid intake, the doctor will investigate what is the matter. If the amount of urine is even lower, a doctor should be visited immediately. If the amount of urine excreted decreases continuously over an extended period of time, a visit to a doctor is also necessary. It may be that there are ulcers or tumors that continue to grow and thus disturb kidney activity or bladder function, or there may be a (benign) prostate enlargement. If there are additional complaints, such as pain when urinating, discomfort and pain in the abdomen or blood in the urine

Examination and diagnosis

1. The following studies are extremely useful in identifying the cause of oliguria. After measuring the amount of urine you pass in milliliters (for example, in a measuring cup) over 24 hours, a self-catheterization can be done to determine the residue, i.e. to check if your bladder is empty after urinating. Imaging research can also be useful to detect abnormalities that could cause the complaints. With an ultrasound the kidneys, prostate, ureters and bladder can be made visible on a screen. If necessary, an MRI or CT scan can be performed to supplement and confirm the diagnosis. In addition, blood tests and urinalysis

2. The following studies are extremely useful in identifying the cause of oliguria. After measuring the amount of urine you pass in milliliters (for example, in a measuring cup) over 24 hours, a self-catheterization can be done to determine the residue, i.e. to check if your bladder is empty after urinating. Imaging research can also be useful to detect abnormalities that could cause the complaints. With an ultrasound the kidneys, the prostate, the ureters and the bladder can be made visible on a screen. If necessary, an MRI or CT scan can be performed to supplement and confirm the diagnosis. In addition, blood tests and urinalysis

Complications

1. Oilguria due to acute renal failure

Treatment of little urination

1. Since little urination or oliguria usually indicate acute renal failure, early treatment can often resolve the symptoms. In addition to the general treatment consisting of compensation of the fluid volume and an adjustment of the lowered blood pressure in your body, the excessive potassium electrolytes are reduced. For this purpose, for example, glucose is added to the body. So-called diuretics or water pills remove excess fluid. Dialysis should also be considered in case of oliguria as there is a risk of acute renal failure. However, if an oliguria is not based on kidney damage, but only on a reduced amount of fluid, fluid supply via infusion or orally (through the mouth) is sufficient. The method of administration depends on the severity of the dehydration. When an oliguria becomes noticeable through fluid retention in the legs

Forecast

1. Little urination or oliguria is a very dangerous and unhealthy condition for your body and in the worst case can lead to death. For this reason, the underlying cause must be quickly identified and treated appropriately. Without treatment, an oliguria leads to muscle cramps and also to tachycardia (fast heart rate). In the worst case, the affected person can experience sudden cardiac death (where the circulation suddenly stops) and die from it. Not infrequently, the disease also leads to dizziness or severe headaches

Prevention

1. To avoid low levels of urination or oliguria, a regular and normal supply of fluids is recommended as it is vital. In addition, you should consult a doctor at an early stage in case of bladder and kidney infections, prostate problems and fluid retention. Many people are prone to heart failure or kidney and bladder infections, which cause oliguria and fluid retention. For these reasons, a check by the attending physician is the best prevention of oliguria.