How to Use Urinalysis to Detect Bulimia

Bulimia can cause several nutritional deficiencies in patients. A wide-ranging examination must be used to screen for all possible damage from the eating disorder once it has been diagnosed. You can use a urinalysis to detect thyroid and kidney damage resulting from bulimia. It is a simple matter with a few important guidelines.

Instructions

Use a Urinalysis to Detect Bulimia

1. Get a urine sample from the patient. Ask a parent or nurse to observe the patient entering and exiting the bathroom to ensure that the sample is not tampered with, but be sure to respect the privacy of the patient as well. The testing may be done at a different office if the primary doctor's location is not equipped to perform a urinalysis.

2. Screen the urine sample for red and white blood cell counts. Red blood cells in the urine can be the result of strenuous activity and white cells could indicate an internal infection. Additional blood tests may be required to check for anemia.

3. Look for protein and ketone traces during the urinalysis. These substances are not normally found in urine and can be signs of serious kidney problems caused by bulimic behavior. Sick kidneys will also allow traces of sugar into the person's urine.

4. Check the pH level of the patient's urine sample. A normal person has a pH that generally ranges from 5.5 to 7.5. A reading that is outside of this range could be indicative of kidney problems resulting from bulimia.

5. Examine the specific gravity of the urine. This test will detect the amount of solid substances in the urine and will show if bulimia is causing dehydration.

6. Speak to the patient about the urinalysis results and explain how bulimia is causing problems for the his body. Certain medications and an increased amount of water can help the patient avoid permanent damage to the kidneys, but continued bulimia will only make it worse.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure that the patient understands the proper way to collect a urine sample. The most accurate samples are taken from the middle of urine stream and not the beginning or end.

• Malfunctioning kidneys as a result of bulimia can also cause large amounts of nitrites in the urine, which can cause a urinary tract infection.

• Certain medicines and foods, like vitamin B and blackberries, can skew the results of a urinalysis by making the urine appear much darker than usual.