Oliguria (Low Urine Output)

Oliguria is the medical term for low urine output. It is typically a result of dehydration, a blockage, or medications.

Most of the time, oliguria can be treated at home, but in some cases, it can be a symptom of a serious medical condition that requires further testing and treatment.

This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis of oliguria, as well as how to it's treated and prevented.

Oliguria Symptoms

The primary symptom of oliguria is producing less urine than normal. Individuals might experience other symptoms as well, depending on the cause of decreased urine output.

The primary signs and symptoms of oliguria include: 

• Urinating less frequently and/or producing a smaller amount than usual
• Urine that is a darker color than normal (generally a deeper yellow color such as amber)

If there is red or dark red blood in urine, this is a different issue called hematuria.

If left untreated, oliguria can also lead to kidney injury. 

What Causes Oliguria?

Several things can cause oliguria, including dehydration, blockages, and medications.

Dehydration

The most common cause of oliguria is dehydration. Dehydration is when your body doesn’t have enough water or fluids—generally because it’s losing more than it’s taking in. This can happen when you sweat a lot on a hot day or have a stomach virus that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

Blockage 

Decreased urine output can also happen when something is physically blocking the urinary tract (such as an enlarged prostate or kidney stones), limiting the flow of urine.

These blockages can occur anywhere along the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder), and the urethra (which drains the bladder). Blockages are more common in adults than children.

Medications 

Some medications can affect the body’s ability to produce or release urine:

• Anticholinergics block involuntary muscle movements and other bodily functions. They are used to treat a variety of diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as overactive bladder. 
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to reduce swelling or relieve pain. Examples include ibuprofen and aspirin.
• Diuretics are substances that prompt the body to produce and release more urine. When used in excess or for too long, diuretics can lead to dehydration, kidney injury, or other health issues—ultimately resulting in a decrease in urine production.
• The use of some antibiotics, like ciprofloxacin and penicillin, can harm the kidneys, and that can affect urine output. This is more common in young children or those with chronic health issues.

Other Causes 

While less common, other conditions that can decrease urine output include: 

• Substantial blood loss
• Serious infections
• Physical trauma
• Shock

Diagnosing Oliguria

Oliguria is typically diagnosed during a physical exam. Healthcare providers also might run tests to investigate potential causes or check for related health issues.

Physical Exam 

During an appointment, your healthcare provider will likely ask you a series of questions about your health to get a better idea of what might be causing the decrease in urine output. For example, they will examine you for signs of dehydration or urinary tract blockage, such as pain in the low abdomen (bladder) or flank (kidneys).

Medical professionals diagnose oliguria based on the amount of urine you produce in a day, though the criteria used are different for adults and kids:

• Adults: Less than 500 milliliters of urine in a 24-hour period
• Children: Less than 500 milliliters/1.73 square meter in a 24-hour period
• Infants: Less than 0.5 milliliters/kilogram per hour in a 24-hour period

Other Tests 

Your healthcare provider might do tests to determine what caused the drop in urine output and whether the decrease has caused harm to the kidneys. These tests might include: 

• Urine tests: To check for an infection, including urinalysis and urine culture. Additional tests of kidney function include 24-hour urine testing where urine is collected for 24 hours at home and then analyzed.
• Ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen: To check for an obstruction, such as dilation of the kidney (hydronephrosis)
• Blood tests: To check your electrolytes, blood count, or kidney function
• Cystoscopy: A procedure by a urologist that involves using a small camera scope to see inside the bladder

What Is the Best Treatment for Oliguria?

How oliguria is treated depends on several different factors, including the overall health of the individual, the likely cause of the decrease in urine, and whether there’s been any injury to the kidney.

Generally speaking, healthcare providers typically recommend increasing your fluid intake, stopping medications that may be causing oliguria, and/or using medications to treat the condition.

Increasing Fluid Intake 

A simple way to treat oliguria is by increasing the amount of fluids you take in. This can often be done at home by drinking more water or rehydration solutions that include electrolytes.

In cases of severe dehydration or where another health issue is at play, your practitioner might recommend intravenous (IV) fluids and possible hospitalization.

Medications 

If rehydration isn’t enough—or if there are other health issues affecting your urine output or hydration levels—your healthcare provider might recommend using medications to treat oliguria or its underlying cause. 

Medications used to treat oliguria include: 

• Antimicrobials: These treat infections, such as those that cause serious diarrhea or vomiting.
• Diuretics: These force the body to produce more urine. In small amounts, diuretics can help increase urine output, but as noted above, too much can backfire and make oliguria worse.
• Renal-dose dopamine: A somewhat debated treatment, it's used to prevent kidney injury by expanding arteries in the kidney and increasing urine output.

How to Prevent Oliguria

Because many cases of oliguria are caused by dehydration, one of the best ways to prevent it is by taking in enough fluids. The amount of fluids you need to drink will depend on how much you’re losing through sweat or sickness, as well as your overall diet. 

Contrary to health food blogs or conventional wisdom, there is no one-size-fits-all set of guidelines for how much water a person should drink every day. However, the Institute of Medicine provides the following recommendations:

• Women should get 2.7 liters (roughly 11.4 cups) of fluids per day.
• Men should get 3.7 liters (roughly 15.6 cups) of fluids per day.

Summary

Oliguria, or low urine output, is typically a result of dehydration, a blockage, or medications. However, oliguria can sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition such as kidney damage or failure. Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice a decrease in urine frequency or volume and be sure to drink plenty of fluids to help prevent oliguria.