In The Snow Society Some of the characteristic symptoms that a person in serious conditions of malnutrition goes through are perfectly reproduced and dehydration. A good example of this is the black urine that several of the survivors admit to having experienced in one of the first chapters.
In reality, this is something that can happen for several reasons. However, in the case of the protagonists of The Snow Society is an example of extreme dehydration. This is because in reality It’s not black urinebut of one color very dark brown.
Urine contains yellow pigments, such as urochrome, which are diluted with water. Thus, with a lot of water, it will be a light yellow color, but when it is scarce the color turns a bright yellow. very dark yellow, which turns orange and, from there, almost black brown. This is what happens to the protagonists of The Snow Society. But would there be other options for urine to look that color?
Other causes of black urine
Black urine, or rather dark brown, can be due to several causes. One, as we have already seen, is the dehydration. But there is more.
Some are completely harmless, such as the consumption of certain food, like broad beans or rhubarb. Obviously, this was not the case for the protagonists of The Snow Societywho had practically nothing to eat.
It can also be dyed this shade by consuming medicinessuch as chloroquine, used to treat malaria, the antibiotics metronidazole and nitrofurantoin, statins used for cholesterol or some drugs used to treat constipation.
Extreme exercise, when it causes serious muscle injuries, can also cause darkening of urine. This occurs due to something known as rhabdomyolysis. Injured muscles release debris into the blood that must be cleaned through the kidneys, but these they can’t cope, so that the urine comes out dark. In fact, other kidney or liver pathologies They also cause the appearance of black urine. Like some internal bleeding. Therefore, black urine can be caused by something as simple as eating fava beans or something as dangerous as a hemorrhage. Therefore, if we have not eaten anything that makes us suspicious, it is important to go to the doctor.
In case of The Snow Society
The boys of The Snow Society They had not eaten beans nor did they have any internal bleeding. What they suffered is a severe dehydration.
This causes other symptoms. such as lightheadedness, apathy, sunken eyes, dry skin, or rapid breathing and heartbeat. Of course, also very thirsty.
Dehydration severe enough to produce black urine can lead to kidney failure, so it is important to take action as soon as possible. This is the case of the protagonists of the series Juan Antonio Bayona. Therefore, they must take action on the matter. Although in your situation, logically, it will not be easy at all.