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Why does blackwater fever cause dark red or black urine?
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malaria
Life cycle of a malaria parasite.
Blackwater fever causes dark red or black urine due to the presence of large amounts of hemoglobin in the urine.1
This condition is a dangerous complication of malaria, typically caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The discoloration occurs because the malarial parasites cause the extensive destruction of the patient's red blood cells, which releases hemoglobin into the bloodstream. When this pigment is excreted, it gives the urine its characteristic dark appearance.1