Have you noticed that the smell of urine becomes stronger and sometimes unpleasant? Many people suffer from this problem. Learn with us about the causes of bad urine smell.
Urine naturally has a distinctive odor. Sometimes you may notice that this smell is different than usual, but most of the time there is nothing to worry about. If urine has a strong, unpleasant odor, this may indicate a health problem. What causes bad-smelling urine?
Causes of bad urine odor
Urine is mostly made of water, but it is the amount and concentration of various waste products excreted by the kidneys that causes this unpleasant odor.
There are several reasons for the appearance of unpleasant urine odor, the most common of which are the following:
- Dehydration
Dehydration usually occurs when you do not drink enough fluids and when the levels of fluids lost from the body are greater than those absorbed, for example:
The color of urine changes to dark, yellow, or dark orange, and is accompanied by a strong odor similar to the pungent odor of ammonia.
Many people suffer from dehydration, but they usually don’t need treatment. Drinking plenty of water helps restore fluid levels in the body. Thus, the color of urine returns to normal, and its smell returns to normal.
A person may need immediate medical treatment if dehydration is very severe, so you should receive immediate medical help if symptoms of severe dehydration appear, such as: fatigue, mental confusion, weakness, and decreased urination.
- Urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections, called UTIs, are the most common causes of bad-smelling urine because they:
This infection is accompanied by many different symptoms, including the desire to urinate frequently, an unpleasant odor when urinating, and a burning feeling.
Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria found in urine. Therefore, treatment may require the use of antibiotics to kill these bacteria, as directed by your doctor.
- Bladder fistula
A bladder fistula occurs when you have an abnormality or injury. This allows bacteria from the intestines to enter the bladder.
This health problem occurs due to injuries resulting from surgeries or intestinal diseases such as colon or Crohn’s disease.
- The nature of your diet
Eating certain types of foods or drinks can cause bad-smelling urine for the following reasons:
Asparagine is the most common cause of bad-smelling urine, because the bad odor results from the breakdown of the acid asparagine.
Strong, foul-smelling urine may be observed after drinking coffee or eating fish, onions, or garlic.
- Kidney stones
Kidney stones are considered one of the causes of foul-smelling urine for several reasons:
Stones can stop or slow the flow of urine, leading to a buildup of salt and ammonia.
Some stones are made of cystine, a sulfurous substance. If it is present in urine, it may smell like rotten eggs.
You should consult a doctor to get rid of these stones if you suffer from fever, blood in the urine, and severe pain.
- Pregnancy
During the early stages of pregnancy, a pregnant woman may notice a change in the smell of urine, such that the smell of urine becomes strong, due to changing levels of pregnancy hormones in the body.
It can cause morning sickness and dehydration, and vitamins taken during pregnancy change the quality and smell of urine.
- Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most important reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the urine or the smell of urine changes to the point that it becomes unpleasant, especially if blood sugar levels are not controlled, for the following reasons:
This odor is due to the accumulation of ketones in the body, which are substances that the body produces when burning fat, instead of glucose and energy.
The body tries to get rid of the glucose accumulated in the body through urine, which is what causes this odor.
- Other pathological causes
Other causes of bad-smelling urine include:
Maple syrup urinary tract disease is a rare genetic disorder that occurs during childhood.
Metabolic disorder.
