Question
A 2-year-old child recently experienced milky white and cloudy urine after taking medication for a cold. What could be the possible reasons?
Answer
When children consume foods such as green leafy vegetables like spinach and bok choy, or fruits like bananas, oranges, and persimmons, which are rich in oxalates and carbonates, the urine may contain increased amounts of salt substances. If these substances are excreted in low temperatures, crystals of carbonates or phosphates may form, resulting in cloudy urine. This is usually a temporary situation that can be improved by providing the child with more water or supplementing with vitamin C, after which the milky white urine should return to normal within a few days.