Blue-green urine in traditional medicine consumption: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Abnormal urine discoloration tends to be concerning for the patient and piques the interest of medical professionals. Different factors can arise in cases of urine turning blue or green. We highlight the necessity of obtaining a thorough history of the patient, particularly regarding previous diets and medications leading up to the condition. Case presentation: We present the case of a 63-year-old man who presented to the emergency room due to an inability to urinate 6 h prior with suprapubic discomfort. He had been having trouble urinating for the past 2 months. The urine bag had a blue-green urine color after urethral catheterization. Further questioning revealed traditional medicine consumption prior to admission. Conclusions: Consideration of the patient’s diet, current medications, and any medical conditions or diseases may aid in deducing the causality of urine discoloration. The clinician’s awareness of the effects of certain medications and conditions could have merit in avoiding unnecessary and costly investigations.