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Urinary Tract Infection Smells Like

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Why Does My Urine Smell Strong Like Ammonia

Urinary Tract Infection – Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, causes and treatment)

Strong, ammonia-like urine is a sign that youâre a little dehydrated. Drinking more water can often help. Sometimes, ammonia is also a sign of:

Urinary tract infection. Also called a UTI, such an infection happens when you have bacteria in any part of your urinary system. It causes strong or sweet urine. Other UTI symptoms include:

  • Needing to urinate a lot

Liver disease. A problem with your liver can make your skin and eyes yellow and your urine dark and smelly. It can also cause stomach pain, throwing up, and feeling sick.

Kidney stones. Crystals made of waste products and minerals can build up in your kidneys and form hard stones, which can cause strong-smelling urine. You might also feel sick, have pain that comes and goes, and have bloody urine.

A Rare Metabolic Disorder May Be The Culprit

Though very uncommon, metabolic disorders , can impact the smell of our urine.

One of the most common is maple syrup urine disease, in which a deficiency in enzymes needed to break down certain amino acids causes sweet-smelling urine, explains Dr. Dune. Luckily, this condition is usually caught and treated in infancy.

Other metabolic disorders, like phenylketonuria , though, can also influence urine smell. In PKU, a defective gene prevents the breakdown of the amino acid phenylalanine, which builds up and causes musty-smelling breath and urine, among other symptoms, like rashes and even seizures.

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Why Does My Pee Smell Like Fried Food

There are a few possible explanations for why your pee might smell like fried food. One possibility is that you have recently eaten a lot of fried foods and that the scent has just transferred to your urine. Another possibility is that you have a urinary tract infection or other medical condition that is causing your urine to have an unusual smell. If you are concerned about the smell of your urine, you should talk to your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

In addition to the body fluids, urine contains two substances: waste chemicals and water. When you become dehydrated, the difference between these two components narrows, increasing the concentration of waste chemicals. When waste chemicals have a popcorn-like odor, you will notice it very quickly. If you drink plenty of water, you will be able to eliminate the odor of popcorn by reducing the concentration of compounds in your urine. It is not unusual for pregnant women to notice changes in their urine that smell like popcorn, but it is possible that these changes are caused by an early pregnancy. Changes in urine smell caused by antibiotics are common, but they can also be caused by other medications.

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Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back

If your UTI comes back after treatment, you may have a urine test and be prescribed different antibiotics.

Your doctor or nurse will also offer advice on how to prevent UTIs.

If you keep getting UTIs and regularly need treatment, a GP may give you a repeat prescription for antibiotics.

If you have been through the menopause, you may be offered a vaginal cream containing oestrogen.

Consuming Certain Foods Or Drinks

Figure 2 from Urinary tract infections: epidemiology, mechanisms of ...

The smell of your urine may change based on your diet. The most notorious culprit is asparagus, which can cause a very distinct smelling urine.

“This is because our bodies convert an acid in asparagus into sulfur-containing byproducts that are passed into the urine,” says Loh-Doyle.

Other foods that can change the smell of your urine are:

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Why Does My Urine Smell Like Popcorn

Sugar and ketone, which have accumulated in your urine, are to blame for this. Although this may occur in people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes, it is more common in people who have not yet been diagnosed. If you have a high blood sugar level, a simple urine test can be used to determine the cause.

What Does Uti Pee Smell Like

Urine contains water and small waste. Urine usually has an odor, but it can fluctuate or change for many reasons. Sometimes your urine can smell bad, and the urine smell could be different for different reasons. You may wonder what does UTI pee smells like? Or what is the smell of urine due to other causes?

The smelly urine is usually temporary and can be easily treated, but sometimes it can be a side effect that needs to be treated more often.

Read on to find out what happens after your symptoms and what you can do to seek help.

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Seek Medical Attention For Utis

It is important to seek medical attention if you think you may have a UTI particularly if you think you may have a bladder or kidney infection, both of which are very serious conditions. Early treatment of urinary infection can help to prevent infection spreading to the bladder or kidneys.

Your doctor will test your urine to check which micro-organism is present. Urinary tract infections usually respond quickly and well to antibiotics.

Fever Nausea And Vomiting

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Signs & Symptoms (& Why They Occur)

A fever is not very common with urinary tract infections involving the ureters, bladder and urethra. However, it is more likely to occur when the infection involves the kidneys. Similarly a kidney infection may present with nausea and vomiting although this is not evident in infections within the lower parts of the urinary tract. These three symptoms â fever, nausea and vomiting â are often confused for a gastrointestinal infection and not a urinary tract infection. It is only when the kidney pain and urinary symptoms arise that a kidney infection is suspected.

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What Does Diabetic Urine Smell Like

One warning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. The sweetness comes from sugar in your urine and is a sign your body is trying to get rid of extra sugar in your blood. Some people say their pee smells like Cheerios, which might be a sweet smell that you should tell your doctor about.

Malaise With No Symptoms

It is not uncommon for a person to have no urinary symptoms in the early stages of a UTI. However, this does not mean that a person is entirely asymptomatic . Instead the symptoms may not be specific to the urinary tract. Malaise is a common symptom in urinary tract infections. This is a general feeling of being unwell despite no specific symptoms. Many people describe it as feeling âfluishâ. Another symptom that may be seen is loss of appetite despite there being no urinary symptoms at the outset.

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Is Bad Or Foul

The severity of your bad smelling urine depends on the cause.

  • Not serious: Any changes in urine smell are often due to dehydration, eating certain foods, or starting a new supplement or medication. If you have no other symptoms, it’s rarely a concern.
  • Moderately serious: If there is also an unusual color to the urine, along with a persistent and very disagreeable odor, you may have a condition that should be treated.
  • Serious: If you have the above signs along with pain or other symptoms of illness, you should see your medical provider as soon as possible.

What causes bad smelling urine with no other symptoms?

Eating certain foods can change the smell of urine and cause “bad smelling urine.” Asparagus is a common culprit. So is coffee. Usually, foul-smelling urine is associated with infections and can happen in the absence of other symptoms. You may also have bladder pain and possibly fever or chills. Dehydration and concentration of urine can also increase the intensity of the smell of urine.Dr. Rothschild

Urgent Advice: Call 111 Or Ask For An Urgent Gp Appointment If:

From infection to cancer...why your breath might smell like PEE

you have smelly pee and:

  • theres blood in your pee
  • you have lower tummy pain
  • you have pain in your back, under the ribs
  • you feel tired and unwell
  • you feel confused or agitated
  • you have a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
  • your temperature is very low

If you have any of these symptoms, you may have a urinary tract infection .

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Help My Senior Dog Has A Recurrent Uti

Urinary tract infections are quite common among senior dogs. Although most canines get simple UTIs that can be treated easily with antibiotics, some older dogs can develop chronic infections. If your senior dog has developed 3 or more infections in a year, its the case of a recurrent UTI. Keep reading to know about the potential causes, indicating signs, and possible treatments for this condition.

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Strong Urine Odor And Fishy Smell

It may not be clearly evident in every UTI case but typically the urine has a strong odor. The descriptions of the odor varies but it is usually somewhere between a strong ammonia smell, to a chemical-like odor or even an offensive fishy odor. Many people with a UTI will also find that the odor lingers after urinating, and is present on the genitalia and even soils the underwear with this persistent odor. It can sometimes be so strong that it can be smelled by others who come in close contact with a person, especially if a person does not wipe thoroughly after urinating.

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Diagnosing The Cause Of Smelly Urine

The doctor will ask about certain lifestyle factors, recent health changes, and when the bad smell began. They may do a urine culture to check for bacteria and other signs of infection.

When the diet is responsible for the smell, the doctor may be able to diagnose the problem based on symptoms alone.

In some cases, the doctor

Burning During And After Urination

6 Main Causes of Pus Cells in Urine | Urinary tract infection | Pyuria

Burning urine is another characteristic symptom. It can be felt from below the umbilicus , all the way to the genitals. The burning is intense while urinating but can persist even afterwards. Sometimes it continues a while after urinating although it may not be as intense as when you pass urine. Most people feel the burning most intense at the tip of the genitals but this does not mean that the problem is isolated to this area. Burning behind the genitalia is another common complaint in a UTI.

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Pee That Smells Like Ammonia

If you detect a hint of ammonia in your urine, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. The odor suggests that bacteria may be swimming around in your urinary system, most likely in your urethra, kidneys or bladder.

Urine showing signs of a UTI also may be cloudy or even a bit bloody. Peeing may also become painful a symptom made even worse by the fact that you may feel the need to urinate more often. A fever and mental confusion are other tell-tale accompanying signs.

If you have multiple symptoms, schedule a visit with your healthcare provider.

UTIs are pretty common, sending approximately 10 million Americans to the doctor every year for antibiotic treatment, says Dr. Bajic. Women and older adults are more prone to getting the infection.

Other potential causes of urine that carry the whiff of ammonia include:

Now an ammonia-like odor also can be linked to dehydration and certain foods and vitamins, as mentioned previously. So if the smell pops up and disappears quickly, theres little reason for concern. If it lingers, though, get checked by a medical professional.

Bdiversity Of Chemosignals By Body Source

Much has been learned of the sources of pheromones through observation of behavioral responses to odors in scent marks collected manually from specific body regions. Zuri et al. used cotton balls, rubbed on skin glands or containing a drop of urine, as a standard substrate for presentation or odors from both sexes to males and females. Their findings confirm that different parts of the body produce different chemosignals and support previous evidence that these signals function in individual recognition . Male opossums investigate odors from females more than those of males, and spend more time investigating odors from the flank skin of females than urine odors . Males also investigate the urine from anestrous females, but not urine from juveniles or estrous females, more than water controls . Because in most mammals males are attracted to urine from an estrous female, the lack of interest in or attraction to urine from estrous females is intriguing. Estrus is pheromonally induced in opossums, and so, males might enhance their chance of mating by locating an anestrous female and scent marking within her home range, particularly if estrous females are guarded or already bonded with another male.

L.D. Smith, U. Garg, in, 2017

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You’ve Got Cramps But No Pms

Abdominal cramping and pain are other symptoms of a UTI. However, a lot of women mistake them for PMS cramps, low-back issues, or even muscle soreness from overdoing deadlifts at the gym, Ross says.

Dont fall for it! This is one symptom you should definitely pay attention to, especially if the pain increases over time, is sharp and localized to your lower back, or is accompanied by a fever, she says. This may indicate that the infection has moved up into your kidneys, a potentially serious complication that can land you in the hospital.

You might describe this type of pain might be described as “pressure down there,” Conway notes. Like Ross, Conway says it’s important to seek treatment immediately if this type of pain migrates to your back or you spike a fever.

Why Does My Urine Smell Rotten

Ammonia Smelling Urine in Women

Foods that convert to sulfur compounds in your body can make your urine smell rotten. This smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions. There are rare conditions that create a rotten smell, too.

Trimethylaminuria. In this condition, your body canât break down a compound called trimethylamine. This chemical on its own smells like rotten eggs, rotting fish, or garbage. As trimethylamine collects in your body, your sweat, breath, and urine will smell rotten or fishy.

Tyrosinemia. There are 3 types of tyrosinemia, which cause problems breaking down the amino acid tyrosine. Byproducts build up and cause breath, sweat, and urine to smell like boiled cabbage.

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If Your Pee Smells Strong

It could be dehydration, or maybe its the supplement youre taking.

As we noted before, your pee is more concentrated when youre dehydrated, so it has that strong pee smell.

Another cause behind that smell, though, can be B-6 vitamins, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The vitamin is water-soluble, meaning it is eliminated in the urine. Check your supplements and multivitamin: How much B6 do they contain?

Fix it: Drink more water if youre dehydrated. If its your supplement, consider switching to a vitamin with lower levels of B-6.

Unusual Signs Of Dehydration You Should Know About

Urine typically changes based on how well-hydrated you are. Fluids like water cause urine pigments to become more diluted, so drinking a lot of water will cause your urine to become more clear. If your kidneys begin to excrete a higher concentration of waste products, youre likely to notice that your urine smells more like ammonia and is a darker yellow. Dark urine is an indication that you might be mildly to severely dehydrated, depending on the concentration.

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You Just Started Taking Supplements

Some supplements, vitamins, and medications can cause changes in your urine smell, says Dr. Ross. Artificial flavors are put in some pill coatings to make them more palatable, but they can also change the scent of your urine.

What to do about it: The most likely offenders? Pills high in vitamin B6, including some multivitamins, heart, and pregnancy medications. Its not particularly worrisome, says Dr. Ross, but be sure to mention your urine odor to your doctor if youre concerned about it, if it changes suddenly, or if you experience other negative side effects along with the smell.

Why Does My Pee Smell

Urinary Tract Infection, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Urine is mostly waste products and water and normally has a mild smell and a light yellow color. If you have more waste than water in your urine, it can smell more strongly.

In most cases, a strong smell isnât a sign of disease. Itâs usually from your diet and medications, or it means you need to drink more water. Certain urine smells can be a sign of some conditions, but your doctor might not consider that to be the case unless you have other symptoms.

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Abdominal Pain And Kidney Pain

The bladder is the most commonly affected part of the urinary tract and lies in the pelvis. Therefore pelvic pain is so common in urinary tract infections. However, there are instances where the pain is felt higher up the torso towards the lower part of the abdomen or even the flanks. Pain just below the umbilicus can occur despite it being due to the bladder which lies much lower down. Flank pain is usually associated with the kidneys but it must be remembered that the ureters run from the bladder up to the kidneys. If the infection gets into the ureters, a person may experience flank pain even though the kidneys are unaffected.

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