Sour urine smell. Machine smell of urine. Other reasons for changes in the properties of urine

In a healthy person, the urine is transparent, light yellow in color and has an unexpressed specific odor. The reasons for changes in the smell of urine in women are varied. Urine can smell like rot, ammonia, mold, acetone, sulfur, beer, rotten oil, medicines, maple syrup, mice, etc. The appearance of a fetid odor in urine always indicates the occurrence of serious diseases that require immediate medical attention and treatment.

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Normal urine status

Urine (urine) is a waste product of the human body, which is formed in the kidneys as a result of secretion, reabsorption and filtration of blood. From the kidneys, through the ureters, it enters the bladder and is then released through the urethra (urethra).

Normally, fresh urine is light yellow in color, transparent and has a mild characteristic odor. After some time, the urine acquires a pungent odor of ammonia, which is the result of oxidation processes in air.

The occurrence of a pronounced unpleasant odor in fresh urine in 100% of cases indicates the development of pathological processes not only in the urinary tract, but also in other organs and systems of the woman’s body.

Possible causes of unpleasant urine odor

The appearance of a pronounced fetid odor of fresh urine in the fair sex occurs for the following reasons:

• dehydration of the body;
• abuse of certain foods: alcohol, asparagus, garlic;
• metabolic disease;
• genetic diseases;
• inflammatory processes genitourinary organs;
• disorders of the digestive tract;
• liver diseases;
• cholelithiasis;
• venereal diseases;
• diabetes;
• menopause;
• pregnancy;
• insufficient intake of nutrients from food;
• application of some medicines: B vitamins, antibiotics: ampicillin, ceftriaxone, penicillin, Augmentin, etc.

Urine is a residual product of metabolism, so its qualitative state and smell can change with various functional disorders of the internal organs taking part in these processes.

An important point is to determine the source of the foul odor: urine or vaginal discharge.

Rapid proliferation of microorganisms occurs with insufficient hygiene of the genital organs or its absence. The appearance of a specific odor is also observed in healthy women during hormonal changes in adolescence or menopause.



Unpleasant smell of urine as a manifestation of illness

A strong foul odor of urine in women is always a symptom of a violation of certain processes in the body. Its appearance is due to the addition of pathogenic bacteria to the components of urine.

The reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant “aroma” may be different, and the smell itself is also different.



Ammonia smell

A variant of the norm is the constant presence of ammonia and its derivatives in the urine. If you detect the smell of ammonia in a fresh portion of urine, you should always think about your lifestyle, diet and health status.

The appearance of ammonia odor in urine is caused by the following reasons:

• dehydration, insufficient fluid intake;
• stagnation of urine (prolonged abstinence from going to the toilet, kidney stones, pregnancy);
• eating predominantly protein foods;
• liver diseases;
• inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, bladder and urethra;
• malignant neoplasm of the urinary tract;
• prolonged use of iron and calcium supplements;
• renal failure;
• tuberculosis.

The faint odor of ammonia, caused by high levels of the substance in urine, is in rare cases a symptom of a serious illness. When you normalize your lifestyle and eliminate the cause of its appearance, it disappears after a few days.

Most often, the appearance of an ammonia odor in urine in women is a manifestation of pathological disorders in the activity of the urinary organs caused by bacterial damage.

According to statistics, females more men susceptible to development inflammatory diseases bladder, urethra and kidneys. The occurrence of a bad odor is the earliest and first sign of these diseases. In addition to changes in the smell of urine, patients are bothered by pain and a feeling of fullness above the pubis, in the lumbar region, increased body temperature, painful urination, and the urine itself becomes cloudy.

Smell of acetone

In the body of a healthy person, a certain amount of acetone is constantly excreted by the kidneys. The appearance of a sharp acetone aroma in urine indicates an increase in its concentration in the blood. This symptom occurs for the following reasons:

• diabetes;
• tumor formation in the stomach;
• dehydration and weakening of the body due to intense physical activity, malnutrition, and prolonged vomiting;
• poor nutrition;
• poisoning of the body;
• thyroid diseases;
• high body temperature.

The appearance of an acetone aroma in urine indicates the presence of large quantity ketone bodies, which in most cases is a sign of diabetes. This disease is manifested by constant, debilitating thirst, dryness skin, a decrease in body weight, spasms of the lower leg muscles and an increase in the amount of urine produced.

The accumulation of acetone bodies during pregnancy is very dangerous. This pathological condition develops mainly in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy and is called “gestational diabetes mellitus” or “diabetes mellitus of pregnant women”. While carrying a baby, obstetricians and gynecologists constantly measure blood glucose levels in order to timely detect this pathology. After the birth of the child, the woman’s condition returns to normal.

In addition to diabetes mellitus, dehydration, prolonged fasting or severe infectious diseases can cause the appearance of an acetone odor in urine in women.

An increase in the concentration of acetone in the blood and urine is observed when using the Dukan and Kremlin diets, and during dry fasting. At the same time, the body begins to use accumulated energetic resources, which leads to dangerous disruptions in its activity and the accumulation of toxins that can have a destructive effect on the nervous system.

A prolonged fever leads to an increase in the content of ketone bodies in the body, in which, as a result of increased metabolic processes, there is an increased consumption of fluid and energy. There is a decrease in glycogen reserves in the liver and an increase in blood glucose levels. When carbohydrate reserves decrease, fat breakdown begins, resulting in the accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood and urine. Ketonuria is caused by fasting of a febrile patient, which promotes the attraction of fat reserves from the depot.

Rotten smell

One of the reasons why urine smells like rotten eggs or fish is when vaginal secretions get into it as a result of the formation of a fistula between the vagina and the urinary organs. Only a specialist can detect this pathology using instrumental research methods.

A faint odor of hydrogen sulfide in urine appears in cases of liver failure. There is also jaundice of the skin, mucous membranes and sclera, heavy menstrual bleeding, bad smell skin.

Smelly urine with the aroma of rotten eggs is a sign of damage to the genitourinary tract by E. coli due to pyelonephritis or a malignant neoplasm of the rectum.

The appearance of a pungent, rotten smell of urine in healthy women is observed when eating asparagus in large quantities. This symptom disappears on its own after 6 hours.

Fishy smell

Urine acquires the smell of fish, often rotten, when the genitourinary system is infected with Trichomonas. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection. The main symptoms of the disease are foul-smelling vaginal discharge of yellow or brown color, swelling of the mucous membrane of the vagina and urethra, hyperemia of the external genitalia, and painful sensations when urinating.

This smell is caused by gardnerellosis. This is a non-inflammatory disease, which is characterized by the proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms - gardnerella - as a result of an imbalance in the vaginal microflora. In addition to the unpleasant fishy smell, a woman is bothered copious discharge green color from the genital slit and discomfort during urination.

A genetic disorder called trimethylaminuria can cause urine to smell like rotting fish. This pathology manifests itself in early childhood and is caused by the inability of the liver to produce the specific enzyme flavin monooxygenase-3, which promotes the conversion of trimethylamine to trimethylamine N-oxide, which has no odor. The main and only manifestation of this pathology is the aroma of rotten fish, which comes from all fluids secreted by a person: sweat, urine, saliva, exhaled air.

Sour smell

In some situations, urine takes on the smell of sour cabbage or sour milk.

One of the main causes of sour aroma is damage to the genitourinary organs by fungi of the genus Candida: candidal vaginitis or urethritis. The main manifestations of this disease are cloudy urine, white cheesy discharge from the genital opening and urethra, itching and burning of the external genitalia, the formation of white plaque on the mucous membrane of the vagina and labia.

Also, the sour smell of urine in women appears with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: intestinal dysbiosis, chronic hyperacid gastritis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, etc.

The development of vaginal dysbiosis, vaginitis or other diseases of the reproductive system leads to such a “fragrance” of urine. These pathological processes are the result of an imbalance in the vaginal microflora due to bacterial damage to the vagina or as a result of prolonged use of antibacterial drugs.

Mouse smell

The presence of a mouse odor or mold in the urine indicates a congenital disease called phenylketonuria. This pathology is a hereditary metabolic disorder of the amino acid phenylalanine, in which there is a sharp decrease or complete absence of the activity of the liver enzyme phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase, which promotes the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. Phenylalanine and its toxic products accumulate in tissues, leading to severe damage to the central nervous system.

The disease begins to manifest itself at 2 months of age. Lethargy, convulsions, increased reflexes, a “mouse” smell of sweat and urine or the “smell of a wolf”, eczema, lag in physical and mental health appear. mental development.

Sweet smell of maple syrup

A hereditary disease called leucinosis causes urine to smell like maple syrup. This pathology is characterized by a violation of the synthesis of the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of three amino acids - leucine, isoleucine and valine. As a result, they accumulate in the tissues of the body and have a toxic effect on it.

The disease is detected with infancy, has a severe course and often leads to death. The main signs of leucinosis are developmental delay, impaired coordination of movements, vomiting, convulsions, depression of the central nervous system, decreased blood glucose levels, ketoacidosis, and low blood pressure. A characteristic symptom the disease is a specific aroma of urine, reminiscent of the smell of maple syrup.

Non-specific odors

In some cases, the appearance of an unpleasant odor in a woman’s urine is caused by the use of certain foods, spices or medications:

• If you eat buckwheat porridge frequently, your urine begins to smell like buckwheat.
• Sulfur compounds, which are found in large quantities in asparagus, garlic, onions, cabbage, and radishes, cause the appearance of notes of hydrogen sulfide in urine.
• The aroma of drugs appears after the use of certain antibiotics (ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin), B vitamins and other drugs.
• Spices such as curry, garlic, cumin, horseradish, and cardamom contribute to the strange smell of urine.

As a rule, this aroma disappears on its own within 24–48 hours after consuming the above-described food or medicine.

Change in urine odor during pregnancy

In pregnant women, the appearance of an unpleasant odor in urine is caused by the same factors as in non-pregnant women. The most dangerous is the appearance of a sweetish tint, the smell of rotting apples or acetone. The occurrence of the described symptoms indicates the development of diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, nephropathy or eclampsia.

On later pregnancy, the likelihood of compression of the ureter by the enlarged uterus increases, which leads to stagnation of urine and the fact that it begins to smell of ammonia.

During pregnancy, inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and bladder develop much more often, which leads to the appearance of a sour or purulent odor in the urine.

Treatment of unpleasant odor of urine

If your urine has a foul odor, you should consult a urologist or gynecologist. If a disease caused by a metabolic disorder is discovered, the woman will be further treated by an endocrinologist; if hereditary metabolic diseases are identified, consultations with a geneticist and nutritionist are indicated.

Treatment always depends on the cause of the unpleasant odor of urine in women and consists of its complete elimination.

If a woman has an acetone odor in her urine, she should avoid sweet and spicy foods. It is recommended to replace sugar and desserts with honey or special tablets, drink plenty of alkaline drinks and avoid fatty foods. If there is no improvement in the condition, you should contact a specialist who will conduct a thorough diagnosis and prescribe qualified treatment.

The cause of urine that smells like ammonia or chlorine, especially in the morning, is bacterial inflammation of the genitourinary organs. The treatment regimen for these conditions includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and symptomatic treatment. At home, you can treat yourself with folk remedies: a variety of diuretics, cranberry and lingonberry juice, decoctions of lingonberry leaves, rose hips, horsetail herbs, and knotweed. These herbs and plants have cleansing, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects.

The key point of therapy is to follow a proper balanced diet, avoiding alcohol, salty, fatty, spicy, pickled and spicy foods.

If there is a putrid odor in the urine, antibacterial drugs are also needed. Additionally, rinsing enemas with a decoction of chamomile flowers are recommended.

A sour odor that occurs due to an imbalance in the vaginal microflora and the addition of a fungal infection. Treatment of this condition is carried out using antifungal vaginal suppositories and systemic tablets.

For mouse-like urine odor, characteristic of phenylketonuria, treatment is carried out using special diet, excluding foods rich in protein and phenylalanine: meat, fish, cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, legumes, etc. The patient’s diet consists of vegetables, fruits, juices and special low-protein foods - amylophenes.

In the treatment of leucinosis, accompanied by the aroma of maple syrup in urine, special mixtures of amino acids and protein hydrolysates freed from the content of leucine, isoleucine and valine are used. Instead of protein, a mixture is used consisting of a mixture of 18 amino acids, the fats in it are represented by corn oil, and the carbohydrates are dextrin-maltose. Additionally, vitamins and minerals are included.

The appearance of an unusual aroma in urine is not always a sign of illness. But if the unpleasant odor does not disappear 2-3 days after its occurrence, you need to visit a doctor and undergo an examination.

The human body is sensitive to any changes in internal balance, therefore, when a malfunction occurs in the body, the excretory system can “warn” about the problem - for example, the smell of urine changes. In healthy adults and children, it normally has almost no odor. However, after standing in the air for a while, the urine oxidizes and after a while acquires a more pronounced odor, reminiscent of ammonia.

If you notice the repulsive, pungent odor of urine, you should be wary. This phenomenon is a common sign of pathologies. It is better to quickly make an appointment with a doctor, undergo an examination, identify and eliminate the causes of the problem.

Types and origin of odors

Urine removes metabolites of bacteria and viruses from the body. Own metabolic products also enter urine, which flows from the kidneys into the bladder, so sometimes you can suspect an illness just by sniffing the patient’s urine.

The causes of stench are varied. For example, when an adult’s urine smells like acetone, this is a clear sign of diabetes. Other possible reasons this condition: pregnancy, dehydration or infection.

Treatment with antibacterial drugs can provoke by-effect– change in the smell of urine. Urine smells like medicine after Augmentin, Penicillin, Ampicillin and Ceftriaxone. A similar phenomenon is possible in those who take vitamins (B1, B6, B12).

But sometimes the stench is not associated with illness. Those who like to eat smoked meat or fish, those who generously flavor their food with spices and seasonings with a bright aroma, spicy cardamom seeds, may notice an uncharacteristic odor when urinating. Urine begins to smell after abusing the following products:

• garlic;
• horseradish;
• asparagus.

Periods of hormonal fluctuations in adolescence, as well as on premenstrual days during menopause in women, may also be accompanied by a change in the smell of urine. At this time, due to the high (or, conversely, too low) content of biologically active substances in the blood, the liquid filtered by the kidneys acquires a sharp “aroma”.

Many people notice that men's urine has a special, more pronounced smell than women's. This is the norm. The phenomenon is associated with high levels of the hormone testosterone in the urine. But often the smell appears after drinking a large amount of alcohol, especially beer.

Acetone smell

The “aroma” of acetone in the morning indicates stagnation in the kidneys. The condition develops if a person drinks little fluid or spends a lot of time sitting.

A smell reminiscent of a mouse warns of phenylketonuria, a congenital genetic pathology. In this disease, the synthesis of the amino acid phenylalanine is disrupted. As a result, it changes chemical composition urine. If treatment is not started in time, the disease leads to severe disorders in the central nervous system and mental retardation. Diagnosis of this pathology in an infant is carried out already on the first day of life.

Fishy smell

A strong fishy odor from urine indicates another health problem – trimethylaminuria. Its cause is a violation of the enzymatic function of the liver. Because of this, tretylamine accumulates in the body, which is later excreted in urine and sweat. Sometimes the smell is so pungent that a person suffering from trimethylaminuria experiences psychological discomfort in the company of other people.

Other possible diseases and their manifestations

The reasons for the unpleasant odor of urine most often lie in pathological processes. Infectious lesions of the genitourinary tract are common problems. Among them, the leading ones are urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis. A timely diagnosis and prescribed treatment will help avoid other unpleasant symptoms and complications.

In case of infections, doctors explain the smell of urine this way: a large number of pathogenic microorganisms and the toxins they secrete get into the urine. If you notice that the smell has changed, you should consult a specialist.

Urine smells like rotten, spoiled eggs due to the following infections of the excretory system:

• pyelonephritis;
• cystitis;
• urethritis;
• balanoposthitis;
• prostatitis.

Illnesses also manifest themselves with other symptoms. When urinating, due to irritation of the mucous membrane, a stinging and burning sensation is felt, aching pain occurs that radiates to the lumbar region, and cloudy urine is released, sometimes with traces of blood. When the smell of rot is added to the listed symptoms, specialists check for purulent foci in the kidneys or rectal fistulas.

The stench of urine combined with difficulty urinating in men indicates prostatitis. Another manifestation of this disease is weak erection.

The odor of the secreted fluid is worsened by infections of the reproductive system: gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and syphilis, which may not manifest themselves for a long time (especially in men). Violation of the bacterial flora of the vagina in women, in addition to the unpleasant odor of urine, is accompanied by specific discharge.

You may notice not only a pungent odor, but also the fact that the urine has become dark in color if you have liver failure. In this case, the pigment bilirubin enters the blood and is excreted by the kidneys. Normally this shouldn't happen.

Late-stage cancers also worsen the odor emanating from urine. For cancer patients, it smells like spoiled meat.

Ketoacidosis in adults is one of the complications of diabetes mellitus. Most often it occurs when there is insufficient production of insulin or untimely administration of this hormone. The pathological condition manifests itself as headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, as well as specific symptoms from the mouth and urine. Sweet-smelling urine is another sign of high blood glucose (diabetes).

Conditions when urine smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, or acquires a sweetish or other aroma, are usually accompanied by general intoxication of the body. It manifests itself as weakness, headaches, and attacks of nausea.

Urine in a child

The urine of newborns is odorless. At breastfeeding it can acquire a barely perceptible aroma of the foods that the mother eats. With the introduction of complementary foods and with age, urine begins to smell brighter, sometimes not too pleasant.

When the aroma of baby urine becomes pungent, with different unusual shades, it is important to look for the cause. With congenital pathology, the stench will be noticeable from the first days of life:

• leucinosis - the sweet smell changes from time to time to acetone;
• homocystinuria - urine smells like cabbage broth or beer;
• tyrosinosis – urine with beer and boiled cabbage smell;
• diabetes mellitus - urine with the aroma of soaked apples.

All of the above conditions without timely treatment lead to serious consequences and even the death of the baby. As soon as parents notice an unusual smell from a diaper or diaper, parents should show the child to the pediatrician.

Another metabolic disorder characterized by a strong specific odor is acetonemic syndrome. It is characterized by a lack of glycogen reserves in the liver. Nondiabetic ketoacidosis can develop due to diarrhea and vomiting, leading to dehydration. The condition is not a pathology, but is especially dangerous for young children.

Any viral or bacterial infections with an increase in body temperature also cause moisture loss. At the same time, the urine becomes more concentrated, and a pronounced ammonia odor appears. To normalize water balance in the body, doctors recommend drinking plenty of fluids. It is best to offer the baby compote of dried fruits, weak tea with lemon.

If a mother notices that her son or daughter’s urine smells like rotten eggs, there is no need to put off going to the doctor. Most often this early sign pyelonephritis.

Treatment

Professional medical assistance for unpleasant urine odor always depends on its cause. Severe conditions - renal failure, liver failure, diabetic ketoacidosis - require immediate hospitalization. Inpatient treatment is prescribed individually.

In case of high blood pressure or in adults (pregnant women, diabetics), patients are helped by drugs that reduce its concentration (Stimol, Citrarginine). Required condition therapy is abundant rehydration with polyionic solutions: Trisol, Ringer-Lock, Lactasol. Doctors recommend drinking alkaline mineral waters, and children are given enemas with soda solution.

Treatment of urinary tract infections is carried out with antibacterial drugs; it is impossible to do without washing the affected organs with antiseptics. To avoid stagnation of urine in the kidneys, experts prescribe diuretics. When the cause of an unpleasant odor is dysbiosis, antifungal agents and drugs to restore microflora are prescribed.

To avoid the manifestation of genetic metabolic pathologies that cause an unpleasant odor, it is very important to adhere to a strict diet. For example, there is no specific treatment for trimethylaminuria. Doctors recommend excluding fish, legumes, and meat products from the diet, and taking activated charcoal daily.

For seasoning lovers who are concerned about odor in their urine, it is best to keep hot and spicy ingredients to a minimum.

Experts advise fans of fashionable diets to diversify their diet so that protein and carbohydrates enter the body in the right quantities. The drinking regime is also important: normally, if there are no problems with the kidneys, you need to drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day.

Unpleasant urine odor is not a reason to panic. But if the stench persists for several days, you should consult a doctor. To find out exactly why there is an unusual smell in the urine, cloudiness, pain and weakness, a specialist will prescribe an examination. You will have to undergo a clinical urine test, according to Nechiporenko and others, and possibly undergo ultrasound diagnostics.

Human urine is blood plasma that has been filtered many times, in which the kidneys leave only those substances that the body no longer needs. Usually this is uric acid, some ions, individual, already used drugs, some substances from food, hormone metabolites, as well as liquid to dissolve all these substances.

Ammonia gives urine the smell. It is weak and intensifies if the container with urine is left open. But if the urine smells bad immediately after it gets into the toilet (or potty), and you know for sure that no new medications or products were taken, this sign may be a symptom of a disease. We will talk further about which one and what to pay attention to.

What does urine say?

Urine is a “product” of the kidneys. Blood passes through the kidneys - every milliliter of it. The blood first passes through the kidney filter, which leaves large molecules in it (mainly proteins and blood cells), and sends the liquid with substances floating and dissolved in it further. Next comes a system of tubules. They have special “analyzers” built into them. They test what substances are in the urine and, together with the liquid, take those needed by the body (glucose, potassium, hydrogen) back into the blood. As a result, out of 180 liters of former blood that has passed through the filter, 1.2-2 liters of urine remain, which is released during the day. Such urine is called “secondary” and is an ultrafiltrate of blood plasma.

The “final version” of urine formed in the kidneys passes through the ureters and is collected in bladder, and then exits through the urethra. In these organs, several cells that have outlived their useful life are normally added to the ultrafiltrate of plasma, and in diseases - bacteria, blood cells, and dead own cells. Then the urine comes out. At the same time, in women it is mixed with a certain amount of discharge from the genital organs, which is always present in a small volume in the area of ​​the vaginal opening.

What gives urine the smell is:

• some medications that are excreted primarily through the kidneys;
• individual substances with a strong aroma contained in food;
• metabolites of certain hormones;
• pus;
• blood;
• discharge from the exocrine glands located on the path from the kidneys to the skin of the perineum;
• some substances that are formed in the internal organs during their illness.

When an unpleasant odor is not a sign of illness

The causes of unpleasant odor in urine are not always a symptom of some disease. As is clear from the list in the previous section, they can also be observed normally. These are the following cases:

• when a person takes medication. Basically, these are antibiotics (especially Ampicillin, Augmentin, Penicillin, Ceftriaxone) and vitamins (especially group B), and it does not matter how these drugs were taken: orally or in injections. In this case, the urine smells like medicine;
• if a person ate a large amount of onions, garlic, asparagus, generously seasoned the food with horseradish, curry, cumin or cardamom seeds. The smell of urine in this case is pungent, but you can also detect notes of the product consumed;
• during hormonal changes: in adolescence, in women - during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. In this case, the plasma ultrafiltrate smells simply more strongly and sharply;
• with poor hygiene of the external genitalia.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that against the background of menopause or when consuming garlic, some other disease could have occurred that changed the “aroma” of urine. Therefore, if, in any of the above conditions, the sense of smell detects notes of acetone, rotten eggs, or fish, you need to consult a doctor. After eating foods with a strong “amber,” the urine stops smelling within 1 day. The “aroma” of the medicine can last a little up to 3 days after the end of the course of treatment.

If the urine smells like acetone while following a protein diet (“Kremlin”, Dukan, “dry” fasting or another similar one), this is not the norm, but a sign that it needs to be stopped. This smell indicates that an acetonemic state has developed, when the body uses incoming proteins rather than glucose to provide energy for ongoing processes. As a result, acetone (ketone) bodies are formed, which have a toxic effect on internal organs and the brain. Therefore, the appearance of “notes” of acetone indicates that it is time to stop such a diet.

We’ll talk about when urine smells like acetone and a person doesn’t adhere to a protein diet and doesn’t fast.

When the smell of urine indicates illness

Let's consider situations where what our nose catches during urination is a symptom of a disease. To make it easier to find exactly your condition, we will group diseases according to the nature of the amber. Within their framework, we will name the reasons that are characteristic only for men and for women. Let us separately consider the reasons why a child’s urine smells.

Urine smells like acetone

In medicine, this condition is called acetonuria and means that to provide vital processes with energy, the body does not use carbohydrates, as it should, but fats or proteins. As a result, so many ketone (acetone) bodies appear in the blood that the body tries to get rid of them and excretes them in the urine. They give urine its characteristic aroma.

Acetonuria develops not only in diseases, but also in the following cases:

• when animal proteins predominate in the diet;
• during fasting, when an insufficient amount of liquid is consumed. As a result, the body breaks down its own fats, and then proteins, but their concentration has become high due to a decrease in the volume of the liquid part of the blood;
• with a prolonged increase in temperature, when fluid is lost through sweat, and proteins and fats (your own or those coming from food) are consumed as energy;
• during intense physical work;
• during intoxication, when it occurs negative impact on the pancreas (for example, when taking large doses of alcohol);
• after general anesthesia which involves deep relaxation of all skeletal muscles.

The main disease in adults that causes the appearance of “notes” of acetone is a complication of diabetes mellitus called ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition. A person does not always know that he has diabetes, therefore, if there were no reasons listed above, you should immediately think about diabetic ketoacidosis and urgently consult a doctor before he goes into a ketoacidotic coma.

You need to think about diabetic ketoacidosis even in the case when it seems that full health, although the person did not consume the missing food the day before, or salads with mayonnaise that had been in the refrigerator for more than 3 days, or pies at the market or train station, symptoms of poisoning suddenly appear: nausea, vomiting, and a stomach ache may occur. Moreover, before this, one could pay attention to increased thirst, night urination, poor wound healing, and worsening dental condition. And on the eve of the “poisoning” it could have been simply the consumption of sweet foods, or it might not have happened: another number of pancreatic cells that produce insulin died, and now the body is almost unable to obtain energy from glucose.

And of course, the appearance of the smell of acetone from the urine of a patient with confirmed diabetes should immediately make a person think about ketoacidosis and consult a doctor urgently. In diabetics, this condition can be caused by:

• skipping insulin injections;
• using expired insulin;
• development of an infectious disease due to diabetes;
• injuries;
• stress;
• a combination of diabetes mellitus with other endocrine diseases: thyrotoxicosis, Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocetoma, acromegaly;
• surgical diseases and operations.

In addition to diabetes mellitus, acetonuria is characteristic of such diseases as:

• 1. poisoning with phosphorus, lead, heavy metals;
  2. narrowing of departments digestive system(stenosis) due to their inflammation or growth in the wall of a neoplasm - malignant or benign.

Despite the variety of diseases and conditions in which urine acquires an acetone “spirit,” the first thing that needs to be ruled out is diabetes mellitus.

The “aroma” of acetone in women

The appearance of such amber in women young who are not on a protein diet and do not abuse alcohol, is especially dangerous during pregnancy. Occurring in the first trimester, when the woman herself may not be aware of her “interesting” situation, it indicates dehydration when accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

In the 2-3 trimesters of pregnancy, the appearance of an acetone odor often indicates the development of a condition called gestational diabetes mellitus, which is complicated by ketoacidosis. If ketoacidosis is stopped in time and then blood glucose is carefully monitored, such diabetes goes away after childbirth. But its development suggests that subsequently a woman should carefully monitor her diet, weight and blood glucose levels, as she has an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Other causes of “acetone odor” in urine in women do not differ from those in men. Even during pregnancy, it is not gestational diabetes mellitus that can develop, which goes away on its own, but “real” diabetes mellitus - insulin-dependent (type 1) or non-insulin-dependent (type 2).

When does the ammonia smell occur?

As mentioned earlier, ammonia is the main component of the smell of urine. If your urine smells like ammonia, you can say that it has acquired a strong odor due to an increase in the concentration of ammonia in it.

This can happen in the following cases:

• with dehydration: when a person drank little water, sweated a lot - when working in the heat or at elevated body temperature, with diarrhea or vomiting;
• for urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). In this case, urination becomes painful, and streaks or blood clots may appear in the urine. Urethritis often develops after sexual intercourse;
• for cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). Its symptoms are almost no different from urethritis. The main difference, which does not affect everyone, is a frequent and painful urge to urinate. Hematuria may also occur;
• with pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), usually chronic. If the acute process is manifested by increased body temperature, lower back pain, worsening general well-being: weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, then chronic, except for the smell of urine and the feeling that the lower back is freezing, may not have any other symptoms;
• for malignant tumors of the urinary tract. In this case, there may also be a change in the color of the urine and the appearance of blood in it. Pain is not always observed, but when large size swelling makes urination difficult;
• with some systemic diseases: tuberculosis, renal failure.

If a man's urine smells strongly, this may be a consequence of prostate adenoma. In this case, urination is difficult (the adenoma tightly grips the neck of the bladder), and the urine stagnates. As a result, an unpleasant odor appears.

If urine has an unpleasant odor in women, even during pregnancy, this is still the same list of reasons as listed above.

Rotten smell

The smell of hydrogen sulfide can occur after drinking alcohol or eating a lot of spicy foods. Additionally, if your urine smells like rotten eggs, it may indicate illnesses such as:

• pyelonephritis. Its symptoms are discussed above;
• liver failure. This disease is difficult to miss; it is accompanied by poor health, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, bleeding gums, injection sites, heavy menstruation (in women); The body often smells like raw liver. Liver failure develops as a result of liver diseases: chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis. In some words
• urine also smells rotten in cases where, as a result of long-term inflammation in one of the organs adjacent to each other - the bladder, intestines or tissue between them - a pathological passage is formed between them (fistula). Then gases from the intestines enter the bladder and, dissolving in the urine, give it a specific smell. If feces enter the urinary tract, the urine acquires the corresponding smell of excrement. Before this symptom appears, a person may remember that he suffered from chronic cystitis, colitis, or paraproctitis.

These pathologies cause unpleasant smell of urine in women and men.

"Chemical" smell

These words can describe the smell of the diseases discussed above:

• taking medications;
• cystitis;
• diabetes mellitus

The smell of soaked apples

It is characteristic of diabetes mellitus. For other diseases, this description is usually not applied.

Urine smells like mice

This is how the smell of a hereditary disease such as phenylketonuria is described. It begins to manifest itself from early childhood, and if the child is not transferred to a special diet that does not contain the amino acid phenylalanine, it leads to profound mental retardation.

Nowadays, children are tested for phenylketonuria immediately after their birth, so in rare cases it can be detected later at the age of 2-4 months (only if the maternity hospital forgot to do this test or they ran out of reagents). This disease does not appear in adults.

Fishy smell

When your urine smells fishy, ​​it may be one of the following:

• Trimethylaminuria. This genetic disease, in which the non-metabolizable amino acid trimethylamine accumulates in the body. As a result, the body itself begins to smell like fish. This is not felt by the sick person, but is felt by everyone around him. The fishy "aroma" mixes with urine and sweat, and gives these fluids a corresponding odor. Because of this, a person develops social problems leading to mental disorders.
• Gardnerella urinary tract infection, typical mainly for women. Gardnerella is a special bacterium that begins to multiply mainly in a woman’s vagina when the balance of other microorganisms in it is disturbed. It practically does not cause “particularly malicious” symptoms. Only, basically, the appearance of light mucous-serous discharge with the smell of rotten fish from the vagina in women or from the urethra in men. In rare cases, mainly with reduced immunity, gardnerella causes the development of cystitis and pyelonephritis in men of both sexes; in men, the development of prostatitis and epididymitis.
• Rarely - bacterial infection(staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, streptococcus) of the genitourinary tract. In this case, the symptoms of cystitis or urethritis described above develop.

The smell of beer

This does not describe the smell of urine in men who have drunk a lot of beer, but a symptom of a disease called “malabsorption.” This is a condition in which the absorption of food in the intestines is impaired. It is characterized by the appearance of diarrhea with the release of fatty feces that are difficult to wash off from the toilet, and weight loss. Since few necessary substances enter the body, the composition of all its biological fluids, including urine, changes.

Hypermethioninemia is an increase in the level of the amino acid methionine in the blood. When it is hereditary (including in the diseases of homocystinuria and tyrosinosis), the smells of physiological secretions change even in childhood. So, urine takes on the amber of beer or cabbage broth, and feces begin to smell like rancid butter.

Sometimes the beer smell characterizes the smell of urine in liver failure. This can be said when this condition developed as a result of large amounts of methionine entering the body, as well as with hereditary diseases tyrosinosis and homocystinuria (they debut in children). In most cases of liver failure, the urine becomes only dark in color, similar to dark beer, and if the liver suddenly loses its ability to do its job (for example, as a result of acute hepatitis), then an unpleasant smell of raw liver appears from the person’s body, from his sweat and urine. Some people say that urine in this severe condition begins to smell like rotten fish or garlic.

Putrid, putrid odors

So, basically, acute purulent urethritis or acute purulent cystitis are described. In these cases, pain in the lower abdomen and painful urination come to the fore, when it seems that after each trip to the toilet not everything has been released from the bladder. The urine may contain streaks, blood clots, and even visible yellow or yellow-green pus.

Urine with stool odor

Developing against the background of long-term problems with urination or defecation (their pain, difficulty), such a symptom indicates the possible development of a fistula - a pathological channel between the genitourinary system and the intestines.

If your urine begins to smell like excrement despite being completely healthy, this may be due to poor genital hygiene.

Change in “aroma” only in the morning

If urine has an unpleasant smell only in the morning, then this indicates either low fluid intake, following a low-carbohydrate diet or fasting, or stagnation of urine, which can develop as a result of:

• urolithiasis;
• tumors and polyps of the urinary organs;
• in men – prostatitis, malignant or benign prostate tumor.

In addition, the situation can be caused by poor genital hygiene in the evenings, especially if an adult (this can be both a man and a woman) practices anal-vaginal intercourse.

When not only the smell changes, but also the color

Now about when dark urine with an unpleasant odor is observed:

• Kidney diseases. If cystitis and urethritis are more characterized by clots and streaks of scarlet blood, then inflammation or tumor in the kidneys, where urine is directly formed, damaged vessels will directly stain this biological fluid. Kidney tumors can be asymptomatic, and inflammation of this paired organ causes lower back pain, deterioration of general condition, and increased blood pressure.
• Renal failure at the stage of producing a small amount of plasma ultrafiltrate. In this case, the urine is dark (concentrated), there is little of it, and it smells strongly of ammonia. Kidney failure develops either as a result of any kidney disease, or against the background of dehydration, or as a result of almost any serious illness.
• Liver failure, which develops as a result of diseases of the liver and gall bladder. Symptoms such as weakness, nausea, bleeding, yellowing of the skin and sclera predominate.
• Hypermethioninemia, in adults, developed as a result of either liver or kidney failure.

What diseases can change the smell of urine in a child?

A change in the smell of urine in a child may be due to:

1. congenital disease. In this case, “amber” appears almost immediately after birth or during the first year of life. Rarely (for example, with diabetes) a congenital disease manifests itself at an older age;
2. acquired pathology: this can manifest itself either immediately after birth (as with gardnerellosis, when the bacterium was transmitted from mother to child during childbirth), or at any other time;
3. immaturity of internal organs.

TO congenital diseases relate:

• Leucinosis is a congenital severe disorder of amino acid metabolism. Parents may notice that after urinating, the diaper emits an unusual “smell,” which has been described as sweet, chemical, and similar to “maple syrup” (another name for maple syrup urine disease). Periodically, the sweet aroma changes to an acetone “amber” due to the fact that the body uses fats as an energy substrate. If the pathology is not identified in time and you do not start feeding the child with strictly special mixtures, the pathology ends in death.
• Homocystinuria. It starts in infants. Such children begin to crawl and sit late; they may have seizures and tic-like movements. There is eye damage, thin rare hair, sweating, dry skin. Over time, if a diagnosis is not made and a diet is not started, damage to the nervous system progresses. Since the basis of the disease is an increase in the level of methionine in the blood, the urine begins to smell like beer or cabbage broth.
• Tyrosinosis is a severe hereditary pathology in which, as a result of impaired tyrosine metabolism, the kidneys and liver are affected; state changes skeletal system. It is important to distinguish it from transient (that is, transient, temporary) tyrosinuria, which is observed in every 10 full-term and every third premature infant. With this disease, the urine smells like beer or cabbage broth.
• Diabetes mellitus, when the urine smells like baked apples. The disease in children may debut with the development of a ketoacidotic state. Then the urine acquires an acetone “amber”, the child develops nausea, vomiting, and may have abdominal pain, which is why children are often hospitalized with “poisoning” or “acute abdomen”.
• Trimethylaminuria, discussed above. In this case, the parents' sense of smell says that the baby's urine, sweat and skin smell of fish.
• Phenylketonuria. Filtered blood plasma released from the urinary tract smells like mice.

Acquired pathology is everything that is considered in adults:

• renal failure - including dehydration, which could be caused by an intestinal infection with vomiting and diarrhea, diseases with high temperature, prolonged stay in a warm, stuffy room;
• pyelonephritis;
• urethritis;
• cystitis.

With all these pathologies, the smell of urine is assessed subjectively. Some parents smell ammonia, while others' noses report a sensation of hydrogen sulfide, rot, pus, or fish.

Acquired deficiency also includes vitamin D deficiency in infants. It manifests itself mainly when the child does not receive adequate nutrition and spends little time outdoors, where the ultraviolet rays of the sun promote the production of this vitamin in the skin. With a lack of vitamin D, even before they develop obvious signs rickets, the child will noticeably sweat (especially on the back of the head), and the urine and sweat will begin to smell sour.

The main smell that urine acquires in a child from birth to 12 years is acetone. In some cases, it may be associated with the development of a complication of diabetes mellitus - ketoacidosis, but in most situations the cause of acetonuria is different. Thus, the digestive tract and pancreas of a child under 12 years of age do not yet “know how” to respond correctly to stress, and when the following situations arise, they give a signal to break down either proteins or fats to obtain energy:

• bacterial or viral infections: more often - intestinal infections(especially rotavirus), less often - colds;
• treatment with certain antibiotics;
• dehydration during illness;
• infection with worms;
• stress;
• hypothermia or overheating.

The “culprit” for the fact that periodically the child himself and his bodily functions smell of acetone may be neuro-arthritic diathesis - a special developmental anomaly associated with a gene-programmed disorder of uric acid metabolism.

What to do if your urine starts to smell bad

Treatment for unpleasant urine odor depends on the cause of this condition and is prescribed strictly individually. So, in case of liver or kidney failure, this is mandatory hospitalization in a specialized hospital that has an intensive care unit. There, resuscitation doctors will monitor the state of health hourly and correct it, introducing the necessary substances based on strict calculations, literally milliliters.

For urinary tract infections (cystitis, urethritis), treatment consists of taking antibiotics and sometimes washing the inflamed organs with antiseptic solutions.

Tumors of the genitourinary tract are subject to mandatory removal, and if malignant cells are detected in them, then this is supplemented with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. If hereditary metabolic disorders are detected, then only a special diet can help, and in some cases, experimental gene therapy.

The acetonemic condition in children and adults is treated in a hospital, where the patient’s body is saturated with the necessary fluid and glucose. The concentration of acetone decreases when complex carbohydrates ("Xylate") are injected into a vein and when solutions such as "Citrarginine", "Stimol", "Betargin" are taken orally (they are not given to pregnant women). Children are also prescribed enemas with a 1% soda solution, and are given “Borjomi” or “Polyana Kvasova” to drink internally, from which gas is released.

With the development of a ketoacidotic state, therapy resembles that for acetonemic syndrome, only intravenous administration of polyionic solutions and glucose occurs simultaneously with a gradual decrease in high sugar levels with insulin.

The cause of the unpleasant odor of urine is determined using urine tests: in general with the determination of glucose and ketone bodies, according to Nechiporenko, bacteriological research, determination of individual amino acids and their metabolites in urine. Nobody in their right mind carries out treatment based on one smell, without appropriate diagnosis.

The bodily fluids of a healthy person do not have any strong aroma. Therefore, if it is a fish, this should be a cause for real concern. This manifestation indicates the presence of malfunctions in the body.

When does urine smell fishy in women? What should I do to eliminate the discomfort? We will try to answer these and other questions further in the material.

Diagnostics

If a person suffers from a strong fishy urine odor, he should go through the following diagnostic procedures to determine the real cause of the phenomenon:

• submit urine for analysis;
• perform a smear from the urine-conducting ducts to determine the nature of the microflora;
• do a bacterial culture;
• conduct an ultrasound of the reproductive and urinary system.

Trimethylaminuria

Why does urine smell like fish? This may be facilitated by a specific female disease such as trimethylaminuria. The presented deviation is also called fish odor syndrome. A malfunction in the body affects the change in the aroma of other bodily fluids, in particular sweat. Thus, with trimethylaminuria, not only the urine smells like fish, but the whole body does.

It is worth noting that this condition does not pose a danger to humans physiologically. In most cases, a woman does not feel a strong unpleasant odor from her own body. Those around you are more likely to notice the stench. The phenomenon has a negative impact on social life a person, brings emotional irritation, causes moral dissatisfaction.

Why does urine smell like rotten fish if trimethylaminuria develops? This malfunction in the body is a genetic pathology. IN in this case Trimethylamine, a chemical compound with an extremely pungent aroma, is not sufficiently removed from the body. The substance is synthesized during digestion in the intestines. It is found in significant quantities in seafood, fish, eggs, and legumes. Therefore, if you have a disease, your urine smells like fish after eating fish.

In a healthy person, the liver produces a specific enzyme - flavin. The substance promotes the processing of trimethylamine into its oxide form, without a pungent odor. Subsequently, these compounds are excreted from the body along with urine. The entire process is controlled by the FMO3 gene. In its absence or malfunction, trimethylamine accumulates in body tissues. In a person susceptible to the disease, the urine smells like fish, there is foul breath, and the sweat has an extremely repulsive aroma.

What treatment is used for trimethylaminuria?

The consequences of fish odor syndrome cannot be eliminated with medication, based on the genetic nature of the problem. In this case, the only one more or less effective way To eliminate the problem is to prescribe a special dietary program to the patient. All foods that are a source of oversaturation of the body with trimethylamine are gradually excluded from the diet. As practice shows, even such actions produce a positive effect only to a small extent. Effective method Doctors have not yet developed a method for a complete cure for trimethylaminuria. Therefore, people susceptible to the syndrome have to struggle with eliminating the unpleasant odor throughout their lives.

Unpleasant urine odor as a result of taking medications

Why does urine smell bad in women? The reasons may lie in taking certain medications. Most often, this is caused by the use of B vitamins, as well as strong antibiotics containing ciprofloxacin. The problem usually resolves naturally. It is enough to stop taking medications.

Unpleasant when metabolic processes are disrupted

If the urine is fish, this may indicate a change in the balance of substances in the body. This happens with dehydration, as well as with diets. To eliminate the unpleasant, repulsive aroma, it is recommended to drink at least 1.5 liters of water daily. If you are following a strict diet, you need to balance your diet by saturating your food with foods high in a variety of vitamins. Such actions will allow you to bring metabolic processes back to normal and accelerate the breakdown of chemical compounds in the body that are the source of an unpleasant odor.

Which doctor should I contact for help?

If your urine smells fishy, ​​it is recommended that you make an appointment with your gynecologist. When there is a violation of metabolic processes in the body, an endocrinologist will provide assistance. If there is a suspicion that the root of the problem lies in an incorrect, unbalanced diet, it is better to go to a nutritionist. To exclude the genetic nature of the phenomenon, it will be useful to visit a geneticist.

What other diseases cause unpleasant odor in urine?

Why does urine smell bad in women? The reasons often relate to the development of cystitis. The disease develops against the background of inflammation urinary tract as a result of hypothermia. With such an illness, the unpleasant aroma of bodily fluid is almost imperceptible. More discomfort is caused by pain in the lower abdomen. To eliminate the unpleasant odor of urine during cystitis and relieve discomfort, doctors prescribe antibacterial medications, as well as baths with medicinal herbs.

There are a number of other diseases, the development of which leads to the appearance of an unpleasant odor in urine. These are primarily sexually transmitted diseases such as ureaplasmosis and chlamydia. Without timely consultation with a doctor, these diseases quickly become chronic. Typically, these infections not only affect the unpleasant odor of urine, but also lead to changes in its composition and color. In this case, potent antibiotics with specific action are prescribed for treatment.

Diseases of the digestive system, in particular dysbiosis and gastritis, can lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor in urine. In these cases, bodily fluids acquire a pronounced acidic odor.

Features of therapy

To eliminate the fishy odor of urine in inflammatory and infectious diseases genitourinary tract, antibacterial agents are prescribed. Patients may be prescribed immunomodulatory drugs and vitamin complexes.

During therapy, patients are contraindicated in alcohol abuse. Doctors also advise abstaining from regular, active sex life. To reduce the feeling of unpleasant urine odor, you will need to follow all the instructions of a specialist. It usually takes months for significant discomfort to resolve.

Improving the quality of life and eliminating discomfort associated with unpleasant smell body, promotes:

• regular hygiene procedures using soap and shower gels with a pH level of at least 5.5;
• reducing the amount of serious physical activity, during which metabolic processes in the body are activated;
• avoidance of emotional shocks and stress;
• consumption of activated carbon after meals;
• frequent change of clothes.

Finally

Trying to find out why urine, like the body, acquires an unusual, unpleasant odor, women often resort to therapy using all kinds of folk remedies. But it is much more effective to immediately determine the real cause of the problem. To do this, it is enough to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis and consult a doctor. In any case, you should not be embarrassed by the presence of such sensitive issue. After all, by seeking qualified help, it will be possible to begin effective treatment much earlier and eliminate the problem faster.

In a person who does not have health problems, the functionality of the systems, along with the organs, should not be accompanied by suspicious symptoms; accordingly, even urine cannot smell strong. The appearance of an unpleasant odor often indicates the possibility of the formation of pathological processes. If we talk about the norm, urine should be colored light yellow color, have full transparency, no impurities.

Of course, we are now talking about fresh urine, since when it oxidizes, its odor acquires an ammonia tint. In some cases, the cause lies not in diseases, but in certain medications or products consumed by a person. But as practice shows, much more often urine that does not smell very pleasant indicates the presence of pathologies, and treatment becomes a sad necessity.

Causes leading to problems

The basic rule that must be followed, regardless of the pathological or non-pathological cause, is to contact a specialist if there is a prolonged presence of an altered odor, since timely diagnosis with subsequent therapeutic effects in many cases it helps to avoid dangerous complications. Often the causes of a strong smell of urine in women are diseases of the urinary system.

Important. As practice shows, the property in question in urine can change long before the initial clinical signs diseases of this group, thanks to which it is often possible to identify the problem at the very beginning of its development.

When it appears, you can suspect the presence of a number of diseases in the body:

Women who are not too picky when choosing sexual partners may complain of an unpleasant aroma - in this case, the cause is often infections transmitted by sexual contact. Taking into account the fact that the reproductive system is anatomically located very close to the urinary system, a change in the properties of urine is observed. The most common pathologies that change the odor of urine include:

In women, the occurrence of a strong odor of urine is a frequent accompaniment of other unpleasant phenomena:

However, a change in the characteristics of the contents of the bladder does not always indicate the presence of pathologies; sometimes the symptom in question develops against the background of hormonal changes due to bearing a baby. Moreover, the problem usually occurs in the 2nd half of pregnancy. The smell will become more unpleasant if you hold back the urge to visit the toilet for a long time - the liquid in the bladder becomes more saturated, literally “infused” and turns into a concentrate.

Nutrition can also change the contents of the bladder for the worse; sharp, excessive fatty foods, pickles, garlic and carbonated drinks, asparagus. Antimicrobial drugs and B-group vitamins can also have a negative effect. Foreign aroma can also appear with active consumption of drinks with added alcohol, especially beer.

When the sense of smell gives a distress signal

When urine has a strong, unpleasant odor, you should be wary, and if this phenomenon persists, the best solution is to contact a specialist. It is also worth mentioning the differences in olfactory sensations - a disgusting-smelling liquid, depending on the predominance of one or another shade, may indicate very specific pathological processes in the body. Let's look at what a certain smell can tell you:

• If the urine stinks of acetone, you can suspect the presence of stomach cancer, diabetes mellitus, an incorrectly composed menu in which proteins and fats predominate, chronic elevated temperature, exhaustion of the body due to diets, fasting, and excessive physical exertion. Interestingly, acetone in small quantities is constantly excreted by the kidneys from the body as part of urine, but if the aroma becomes strong, we can talk about a pathological excess of the permissible limit.
• Another constant component of urine is ammonia. However, if its odor increases, it is necessary to consider possible influencing factors. We can talk about the use of medications containing iron and calcium, abuse of proteins, less often, ammonia stench accompanies inflammatory processes occurring with cystitis or pyelonephritis. Ammonia can form due to stagnation of urine, dehydration, and liver pathologies.
• The pungent odor of urine may be sour, reminiscent of spoiled milk or sauerkraut. In this case, the first thing to suspect is fungal infections genitourinary system - usually this is candidal urethritis or vaginal pathology. Additionally, there is turbidity in the urine, itching, white discharge that resembles flakes or a suspension and appears in the genital area, a whitish coating on the vaginal mucosa and on the labia. A sourish tint also indicates problems in the functioning of the organs of the digestive system - this could be intestinal dysbiosis, high level acidity of gastric juice and other painful conditions. Taking certain medications - usually antimicrobial agents - also provokes the appearance of sourness, since taking such drugs upsets the balance of microflora.
• In fairly rare cases, the fluid from the bladder itself smells like spoiled fish, but vaginal discharge can get into it after sexually transmitted infections enter the body, hence a similar effect. Thus, the venereal pathology of trichomoniasis causes damage to both the genital organs and the urethra, and the causative agents of the pathology, actively multiplying, secrete a yellowish leucorrhoea, specifically.

These are the most common changes, but there are many other pathologies. For example, phenylketonuria, which refers to a hereditary failure of protein metabolism, “smells” like mold. The rare disease trimethylaminuria is accompanied by the stench of rotten fish, and not only urine smells like that, but the whole body.

An aroma of maple syrup or burnt sugar may occur, which indicates the presence of leucinosis. This hereditary disease is characterized by disturbances in the production of enzymes that break down certain amino acids. As a result, the latter begin to accumulate in the tissues, causing intoxication of the body. Symptoms of the pathology also include vomiting, seizures and problems with coordination of movements.

In case of infection of the urinary system or genital organs with E. coli, the urine smells like rotten eggs, the same phenomenon accompanies the formation of pyelonephritis or rectal cancer. If a similar symptom occurs in girls, the development of infectious processes occurring in the kidneys and bladder can be suspected.

Proven fact. Most diseases of the urinary system are accompanied not only by changes in the aroma of urine, but also by its cloudiness, the appearance of various pathological inclusions - pus, suspension and others.

Other reasons for changes in the properties of urine

Quite often, changes in the properties of urine do not occur as a result of the development of diseases. For example, the liquid may smell like garlic, sulfur, or ampicillin due to the consumption of certain foods or the use of antimicrobials. Regular cabbage, due to the sulfur compounds it contains, can enhance or worsen already unpleasant aromas. Seasonings, especially garlic and curry, cardamom or cumin, can also change the properties of the contents of the bladder.

Changes also appear when a woman is carrying a child. However, the reasons may be factors that existed before pregnancy. During this period, it is very important to carefully monitor any unusual nuances. For example, it is considered most dangerous for pregnant women when the liquid has a sweet aroma, a hint of rotting apple or acetone. Such symptoms may indicate the development of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women, the occurrence of eclampsia or nephropathy.

It has been noticed that during the process of bearing a child, inflammatory processes most often occur in the bladder or kidneys, resulting in the appearance of fluid with a purulent or sour spirit. In the third trimester, it is possible that the ureter may be compressed by the enlarged uterus, which causes stagnation of the contents and increases the ammonia smell. Another reason why a pregnant woman’s own urine may not smell very pleasant is the increased blood supply to the mucous layers of the body, including the nasal membranes. As a result, even the most ordinary urine and natural secretions can seem foul.

Quite often, discomfort is caused by poor hygiene, partial urinary incontinence, cystitis and other reasons.

How to get rid of pathology

Having determined why the urine began to smell atypical, they move on to eliminating the influencing factors or begin treatment to get rid of the disease accompanied by this unpleasant phenomenon. The main proposals for eliminating the pathological phenomenon include:

• Visit a specialist if you have persistent symptoms that do not disappear even after all symptoms have been eliminated possible factors impact. The doctor will determine the necessary examination and develop subsequent treatment.
• At home, you can use decoctions of knotweed, cranberry or lingonberry - they are recommended to be consumed instead of tea.
• A review of the diet will be required, eliminating foods that provoke an unpleasant phenomenon.
• It is necessary to adhere to the correct drinking regime, consuming at least two liters of purified liquid during the day.
• Control over intimate hygiene should be tightened, given the proximity of the anus to the vagina. Ideally, washing is carried out after each bowel movement, which avoids the penetration of pathogenic microflora into the urethra.

Treatment using pharmaceuticals becomes possible only after an accurate determination of the disease causing the phenomenon in question. If the problem is in the kidneys, diuretics are required. Kidney failure may require hospitalization. In case of infection of the genitourinary system, treatment should be comprehensive with the use of antifungal agents and antibiotics. Most often, therapy is carried out against the background of a diet in which it is necessary to limit the consumption of flour, fatty and sweet foods, focusing on fresh fruit and vegetables.

You should remember that self-medication is inadmissible, which will avoid unnecessary complications.