Foamy Urine

About the Symptom

Foam is a substance made by trapping air or gas bubbles inside a liquid, and foamy urine occurs when this process happens during urination. A thin layer of air bubbles forms on top of the urine while urinating. Most causes of foamy urine are normal, such as having a full bladder or being dehydrated. However, persistent foamy urine may be due to excessive protein in your urine, which could indicate more serious issues like kidney problems.

When to see a doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Eyelid edema
• Constipation
• Lower leg edema
• Gross hematuria
• Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
• Unexplained weight loss of 5% or more in 1 month
• Recent weight loss
• Respiratory wheeze
• Facial edema
• Edema

Possible Causes

Generally, Foamy urine can be related to:

• Diabetes Mellitus

  A disease where blood sugar levels are abnormally high due to issues with insulin production or resistance. Often, there are no symptoms until the condition worsens, so regular screening is important. Over time, high sugar levels can cause many complications affecting the nervous system, heart, eyes and kidneys.

• Nephrotic Syndrome

  A condition where the blood vessels in your kidneys get damaged and leak protein. Common causes include autoimmune (the body's immune system attacking itself) and diabetic kidney disease. It causes swelling in your body, usually in the feet and ankles.

• Amyloidosis

  A disease in which "amyloid," an abnormal type of protein, accumulates in various organs, causing damage. Affected areas can include the heart, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. The causes are diverse.

• Hereditary Nephritis (Alport Syndrome)
• Hypothyroidism

Related serious diseases

Sometimes, Foamy urine may be related to these serious diseases:

• Chronic Kidney Disease

  The build-up of toxins in the blood that is caused by decreased kidney function. Causes include repeated damage from infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmunity (the body's immune system attacking itself). It usually occurs with chronic and end-stage renal disease but may occur in acute kidney injury as well. When toxins that are usually filtered out by the kidneys, stay in the blood, symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive issues, shortness of breath, muscle cramping, nausea and vomiting can occur.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Is your urine foamy?
• How long have you had foaming when passing urine?
• Have you experienced foaming when passing urine in the past?

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