Baby’s Urine Smell – Causes And Treatment

1. Urinary Tract Infection

If your baby is passing foul-smelling urine, and also has a fever, it could be a strong indication of an underlying UTI.

2. Insufficient Water

If your baby is not drinking enough water and other liquids, it can strain the kidneys to function properly. Dehydration can result in a deep yellow urine along with a strong odor.

3. Feeding Habits

If the baby is exclusively breast-fed, then what the mother eats can influence the smell of the baby’s urine. Many vegetables and pungent herbs, when eaten by the mother, can cause the baby’s urine to have a strong smell.

4. Diaper

Diapers use different chemicals to help with absorption. Your baby’s urine can react with these chemicals and emanate a strong smell.

5. Lactose Intolerance

If your baby is unable to digest all that milk due to intolerance towards the lactose content in the milk, it can cause the urine to smell. This is usually accompanied by a bloated stomach or crying out of discomfort or indigestion.

6. Eating Habits

If your baby has been introduced to solid foods, then what they are eating can influence the smell of their urine. Asparagus can cause a strong smell in the urine – for both babies and adults.

Why Does a Baby’s Urine Smell Like Ammonia?

Urine tends to have high ammonia content if the baby is dehydrated or is passing urine after a long gap – first urine in the morning after waking up. There is no need to worry here unless the urine tends to have a strong ammonia smell all the time. However, if it continues and the baby seems to be in distress every time they pass urine, you must consult your doctor immediately.

Why Does a Baby’s Urine Smell Like Vinegar?

Is your baby sick? Do they have a cold or are they suffering from reflux? These can cause the urine to carry a vinegar smell. The smell can also indicate your baby might catch a cold. The smell is the result of those viruses in the body.

Why Does a Baby’s Urine Smell Like Poop?

Now, if they pass stool and it smells, it’s understandable, but urine smelling like poop? Definitely a cause for concern! Such a strong odor in their urine is a strong indication of a UTI. If you have been wiping their bum from back to front after a poop session or during a diaper change, bacteria from the anus could have entered the urinary tract. This can result in an infection causing urine to smell like poop and pain or discomfort for the baby while peeing.

[Read : Why Is My Baby’s Poop Green?]

Does Sweet Smelling Urine Indicate Diabetes?

When the baby has high sugar content in their blood, the urine can smell sweet. This is caused by an accumulation of Ketones and sugar in the body can cause the urine to smell strong. Juvenile diabetes is not an uncommon occurrence anymore. In fact, doctors check the baby’s blood soon after birth to rule out juvenile diabetes.

However, if you notice your baby’s urine to carry a sweet smell despite being tested negative for diabetes, it is always better to get it confirmed by a doctor. High sugar content in the blood, if left unchecked, can cause serious damage to the organs, and also have a severe impact on the overall health of the baby.

What Does Smelly Urine Indicate?

Ok. So your baby’s urine smells different than it usually does and you are understandably concerned. What can such a strong odor in your baby’s urine indicate after all?

Strong odor in the urine can be a symptom of:

1. Urinary tract infection
2. Dehydration
3. Intestinal bacteria that might have entered the urinary tract
4. Juvenile diabetics or high sugar content in the urine can cause it to smell differently
5. Rare metabolic disorder (not a common occurrence)
6. Highly concentrated urine – first urine in the morning
7. Lactose Intolerance

There is no scientific backing for this claim by a few parents over the generations. Teething is usually expected to cause indigestion and loose stools as the baby might nibble on non-eatables or may not chew the food properly due to the pain and discomfort. If the food is not digested properly, it might cause the urine to smell different.

[Read : Stages of Teething in Babies]

When to Consult a Doctor?

When you feel something is off with your infant’s body, it is advisable to consult a doctor rather than panicking or self-diagnosing.

Some of the instances that require immediate medical attention are:

• Your baby’s urine smells very strong and has a very deep color – for more than one urine.
• Your baby is not drinking enough liquids and expresses discomfort while peeing and pooping.
• Baby cries every time they pass urine.
• You see spots or a little bit of blood mixed with the urine.
• The urine smells sweet.
• You see a lot of ants rushing to the soiled diaper or wet underpants (high sugar content in the urine can attract a lot of ants).
• If the urine later in the day is also highly concentrated and smells strongly of ammonia.
• If you notice some stool being passed along with the urine from the urinary tract.
• Discolored urine – any shade apart from pale yellow.

Always pay attention to your baby’s soiled diaper or underpants. They can tell you a lot about your baby’s health. When you feel something is not right, do consult a doctor right away before the issue can get serious. Most times it may not be something to worry about, but it is always better to rule out any possibilities.

[Read : Breastfed Baby Poop]

FAQ’s

1. Does Urine Smell Strong if Something is Wrong in the Body?

The kidneys are working all the time to help the body absorb essential nutrients and discard all that is not needed. If this urine smells strong, it is a strong indication that you need to check for the cause.

2. How to Handle Dehydration in Baby?

Try increasing your baby’s water intake. In the case of very young babies who are on an exclusive milk diet, increase their milk intake. Increasing the liquid content in their bodies can resolve the issue in no time.

3. How Will a Doctor Diagnose a UTI?

A doctor will prescribe some tests to be done on the baby’s urine to determine the actual cause for the smell and change in color.

Read Also: Black Poop in Babies – Causes and Intervention

Is Smelly Urine Anything to Worry About?

The Full Story

Why does urine smell?

Most healthy adult humans produce around six and a half cups of urine daily. Human urine contains water as well as other products that are excreted by the body through the kidneys. Since 95% of urine is water, it is uncommon for fresh urine to have a bad smell. The sense of smell does vary among individuals, and some people may notice a mild smell to their urine that is not typically offensive in nature. The pungent odor of stale urine (think of a busy and dirty public restroom) is likely due to the presence of volatile organic compounds, or VOC’s, which are present in urine. More than 200 VOC’s have been identified in human urine. As urine ages, it undergoes evaporation of water which leads to a change in the concentration of VOC’s in the urine. The concentrated VOC’s that are present in older urine, including dimethyl sulfone, trimethylamine (TMA), and acetic acid, are often smelly compounds that are likely contributors to the characteristic smell of old urine.

VOC’s are also present in breath, sweat, and other body fluids, and vary based on our age, diet, health status, and other factors. Many of these VOC’s contribute to our individual body odor. Some studies have identified a connection between the presence of some VOC’s and different diseases such as leukemia, liver disease, and kidney failure. In humans, VOC’s present in urine have been explored as potential targets for search and rescue dogs assisting in the rescue of entrapped victims of building collapses and other disasters.

Is smelly urine anything to worry about?

Food, drink, and our body’s metabolism can affect the composition of our urine as well as its odor. One of the most common causes of an abnormal urine odor is asparagus. After eating asparagus, many people report having a sulfur-like odor to their urine. The cause of this is unknown but may be related to the presence of VOC’s, including dimethyl sulfoxide, methanethiol, or carbon disulfide, which are present in the urine of people who eat asparagus. Interestingly, some individuals are unable to smell the pungent urine odor associated with asparagus consumption. Urinary odors can be associated with certain medical conditions, so if odor persists or occurs on a regular basis it is important to see a doctor for further evaluation. Urinary tract infections involve the presence of mucus, bacteria, and white blood cells in urine. Many of the bacterial species that cause urinary tract infections can also break down urea, a natural waste product that is commonly excreted in urine. These bacteria cause urea to break down into ammonia, which imparts a strong, pungent odor to affected patients’ urine. Another cause of an abnormal urine smell is diabetes, which may be associated with sweet-smelling urine due to the presence of excess glucose or sugar in the urine. Some genetic conditions are also associated with an abnormal urine smell. In maple syrup urine disease, affected patients’ urine typically smells sweet. Patients with kidney disease or dehydration may have concentrated urine that contains an abnormally high level of waste products and smells like ammonia.

Why does my urine smell like fish?

Patients affected by trimethylaminuria will often have fishy-smelling urine. Trimethylaminuria is a genetic disorder in which affected individuals have an enzymatic deficiency that makes them unable to metabolize TMA. Because they cannot metabolize TMA, affected individuals have a buildup of TMA in their bodies. This excess TMA is then excreted in sweat, urine, and other body fluids. While many individuals with trimethylaminuria are diagnosed as infants or children, the disease is sometimes not detected until adulthood, and it may also occur intermittently. Emotional distress, menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, and consumption of foods or dietary supplements rich in choline are all factors that may worsen the signs and symptoms of trimethylaminuria, including the presence of fishy-smelling urine. Because of the significant odor associated with the disease, many patients with trimethylaminuria suffer from psychological distress, including loneliness, depression, and avoidance of social situations.

Choline is an essential nutrient that is present in cell membranes. Consumption of choline, which is present in multiple vitamins and supplements (including vitamin B6 and prenatal vitamins), can cause a fishy urine odor in individuals who have trimethylaminuria. Meat, fish, dairy, and egg products are also good dietary sources of choline and may worsen urinary odor in patients with trimethylaminuria. Use of oral contraceptive pills may also result in a fishy urine odor in affected individuals. The ingestion of other foods and dietary supplements that contain odiferous VOC’s, including garlic, may also affect urine odor.  

If you develop an abnormal urine odor or other undesirable symptoms after taking medications or dietary supplements, talk to your doctor or contact Poison Control. Get an immediate personalized recommendation online or call 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD
Medical Toxicologist

Poisoned?

Call


1-800-222-1222


or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
• Talk to your doctor if you experience frequent changes in the smell of your urine.
• Read dietary supplement labels carefully to understand the ingredients that are present. 

This Really Happened

An otherwise healthy 5-week-old infant suddenly developed a repulsive, tuna-like smell. His mother described the odor as “overwhelming”, she and his grandmother brought him to an Emergency Department for evaluation of the smell. The baby appeared well on physical examination, but he had a fishy odor. An evaluation of his dietary intake revealed that his parents had changed his infant formula from Enfamil to a less expensive variety from Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart formula contained significantly higher amounts of choline than the previous formula. The infant was presumed to have trimethylaminuria, and consumption of the choline-rich formula was believed to be the most likely source of the infant’s odor.

Share this:

Facebook

Twitter

Reddit

For More Information

Trimethylaminuria (NORD)

Urine odor (Mayo Clinic)

References

Anomymous. Urine color and odor changes. Many things can alter the look and smell of your urine. When should you be concerned? Harv Womens Health Watch. 2010 Jun;17(10):7. 

Felix P, Puthi V, Aslam M. My child has smelly urine. Pediatr Nephrol. 2012 Jul;27(7):1087, 1089-90.

Kwak J, Grigsby CC, Smith BR, Rizki MM, Preti G. Changes in volatile compounds of human urine as it ages: their interaction with water. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2013 Dec 15;941:50-3. 

Lee CW, Yu JS, Turner BB, Murray KE. Trimethylaminuria: fishy odors in children. N Engl J Med. 1976 Oct 21;295(17):937-8.

Messenger J, Clark S, Massick S, Bechtel M. A review of trimethylaminuria: (fish odor syndrome). J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013 Nov;6(11):45-8. 

Mochalski P, Krapf K, Ager C, Wiesenhofer H, Agapiou A, Statheropoulos M, Fuchs D, Ellmerer E, Buszewski B, Amann A. Temporal profiling of human urine VOCs and its potential role under the ruins of collapsed buildings. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2012 Sep;22(7):502-11.

Mogilnicka I, Bogucki P, Ufnal M. Microbiota and Malodor-Etiology and Management. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 20;21(8):2886.

Pardini RS, Sapien RE. Trimethylaminuria (fish odor syndrome) related to the choline concentration of infant formula. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2003 Apr;19(2):101-3. 

Pelchat ML, Bykowski C, Duke FF, Reed DR. Excretion and perception of a characteristic odor in urine after asparagus ingestion: a psychophysical and genetic study. Chem Senses. 2011 Jan;36(1):9-17. 

Rehman HU. Fish odor syndrome. Postgrad Med J. 1999 Aug;75(886):451-2.

Sarigul N, Korkmaz F, Kurultak İ. A New Artificial Urine Protocol to Better Imitate Human Urine. Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 27;9(1):20159. 

Scheffler L, Sharapa C, Buettner A. Quantification of Volatile Metabolites Derived From Garlic (Allium sativum) in Human Urine. Front Nutr. 2019 Apr 16;6:43. 

Shirasu M, Touhara K. The scent of disease: volatile organic compounds of the human body related to disease and disorder. J Biochem. 2011 Sep;150(3):257-66. 

Poisoned?

Call


1-800-222-1222


or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
• Talk to your doctor if you experience frequent changes in the smell of your urine.
• Read dietary supplement labels carefully to understand the ingredients that are present. 

This Really Happened

An otherwise healthy 5-week-old infant suddenly developed a repulsive, tuna-like smell. His mother described the odor as “overwhelming”, she and his grandmother brought him to an Emergency Department for evaluation of the smell. The baby appeared well on physical examination, but he had a fishy odor. An evaluation of his dietary intake revealed that his parents had changed his infant formula from Enfamil to a less expensive variety from Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart formula contained significantly higher amounts of choline than the previous formula. The infant was presumed to have trimethylaminuria, and consumption of the choline-rich formula was believed to be the most likely source of the infant’s odor.

Pungent smell of urine in a child

HomeChanges in urine

Contents of the article:

• Causes
• Type of smell
• Concomitant symptoms
• What to do?
• Prevention

A small child cannot report feeling unwell. Sensitive parents have to look for indirect signs by which to assess the state of health. They can be the slightest changes in behavior, appetite, the nature of the discharge. So, the unpleasant smell of urine in a child is the first signal that something is going wrong in the body.

Normally, the urine of a newborn up to 3 months has no smell, or it is barely distinguishable. With the introduction of complementary foods, the aroma changes, becomes more vivid. In breastfed babies, it is much softer than in children who are initially fed with mixtures. At 3 years or a little later, the discharge acquires a characteristic color and smell, like in an adult. In adolescence (after 12 – 13 years), it changes, becomes abrupt due to hormonal changes that accompany growth processes.

A sudden unpleasant, strong smell of urine in a child should alert parents. This is an occasion to understand the reasons and, possibly, to undergo an examination.

Causes

The reasons why urine smells unpleasant start from dietary errors and end with serious infections, hereditary diseases.

The following are physiological and pathological causes:

• Nutrition – its change or violation. The gentle “milky” smell of urine in infants changes with the introduction of complementary foods, transfer to another mixture, and may be a manifestation of intolerance to certain products. In a child 2 years and older, urine may change color and smell due to chemical dyes found in juices, factory-made sweets. The aroma also appears from the excessive consumption of carbonated drinks, foods high in protein (especially seafood), fatty and spicy.
• Changing maternal diet while breastfeeding. Products with a bright taste especially change the smell of secretions – horseradish, garlic, mustard, asparagus. Alcohol and smoking have a similar effect and dramatically negatively affect the health of the baby.
• Lack of fluid and important trace elements – dehydration, starvation. Children quickly lose water due to physical activity, in heat, in case of poisoning with diarrhea, vomiting and runny nose (due to the inability to breathe through the nose).
• Lack of vitamin D – rickets, unbalanced day regimen, little sunlight (in northern latitudes).
• Poor hygiene – low-quality or rarely changed diaper for a baby, dirty underwear and bed linen. Discharge from the genital and urinary organs contains a breeding ground for bacteria that multiply rapidly in such conditions.
• Increased physical and emotional stress — an easily excitable, hyperactive child consumes not only liquid, but also important body reserves (minerals, electrolytes, protein compounds). In a state of deficiency, metabolic processes are disturbed.
• Medications – antivirals, vitamins, antibiotics. Long-term drug therapy often leads to the fact that the child begins to smell like drugs.
• Infections of the respiratory system – runny nose, colds, SARS, bronchitis. The decay products of bacteria and viruses can be poorly filtered by the kidneys of a weakened child’s body, which causes a pungent smell of discharge.
• Liver pathology – insufficiency, mechanical and infectious hepatitis. It is in the liver that the primary filtration of blood takes place. If the function of the organ is impaired, “under-purified” fluid enters the urinary system.
• Diabetes. Urine changes odor due to glucose and ketone bodies, the content of which in the body deviates from the norm.
• Inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system – glomerulo- and pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis. The most common cause of smelly urine in a child. They arise from hypothermia, non-compliance with hygiene measures, transmission of infection from another organ (intestine, genital tract).
• Genetic disorders – this group includes hereditary pathologies of enzyme metabolism (ketonemia, phenylketonuria, leucinosis, tyrosinemia). Inhibition of metabolism leads to the appearance of atypical impurities, color, and aroma in the excreted liquid.

Type of odor

The smell of urine that comes on suddenly can indicate the root cause of the change. It is also evaluated during clinical trials.

What it smells like	Possible causes
Ammonia smell.	Infections, tumors of the urinary tract, kidney stones, severe bacterial intoxication. The smell of ammonia in the urine of a child occurs during starvation, the use of “harmful” foods, dehydration, overexcitation or heavy loads. Urine smells like ammonia in a child also with tuberculosis, hepatitis, poisoning with low-quality food.
Medicines, chemicals.	Poisoning by household chemicals, medicines. With long-term treatment with antibiotics, the body and secretions smell like medicine. Urine often smells like penicillin (similar to the smell of cat urine).
Burnt sugar.	Leucinosis is a hereditary disorder of amino acid metabolism. A sweet aroma appears with a sharp increase in glucose levels against the background of diabetes mellitus.
Musty, mousey.	Phenylketonuria is a genetic disease with a severe mental disorder.
Rot.	Infections of the urinary apparatus in the acute phase, decay of tumors and cysts of the urinary tract.
Rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide).	Liver failure, inflammation of the genital organs (due to bathing in dirty water, common pool, lack of personal hygiene items, transmission of microbes from the mother during gestation).
Acetone, apple cider vinegar.	Insulin-dependent diabetes, heavy metal salt poisoning. Children’s urine smells like acetone after active activities, games, pronounced emotional upheavals.
Rotten fish.	Hereditary fishy odor syndrome with trimethylamine accumulation.
Beer, yeast.	Liver failure, hepatitis.
Sour cabbage.	Genetically determined disorders of tyrosine metabolism, diseases of the stomach and intestines, fungal infection of the genital tract.
Bow.	Gynecological diseases in girls, during puberty in boys with a lack of hygiene.
Calom.	Violation of the integrity of the wall between the rectum and the bladder – fistula.

Read also on the topic

Why does cloudy urine occur during pregnancy, how dangerous is it?

Important! In a teenage girl, the aroma of urine can change over the course of a month. This is due to the formation of the menstrual cycle.

Unusual smell of discharge may be the only warning sign or may be accompanied by other symptoms. They help clarify the clinical picture and determine why urine stinks.

Concomitant symptoms

A strong smell of urine in a child is often the first in a series of changes in the body during illness. If it is easily eliminated, there may not be other manifestations.

Below is the correspondence of symptoms to a particular disorder.

• Diabetes mellitus: increased feeling of thirst and hunger, body weight decreases sharply, the skin can become dry, covered with spots, sores, urination becomes more frequent and increases (polyuria), apathy appears.
• Trimethylaminuria: the patient may not notice this, but not only urine smells like fish, but also skin, hair, and exhaled air.
• Rickets: sweating of the feet and hands, sleep disturbance, appetite, defects in the development of teeth, hair, nails, bones. In very severe cases, seizures may occur.
• Poisoning: fever, diarrhea, vomiting, cold clammy sweat, confusion or loss of consciousness.
• Kidney diseases: weakness, fatigue, lower back pain, itching in the groin, the child’s urine smells of ammonia, sediment appears (flakes, sand, blood clots), it becomes painful to urinate, the frequency of urges increases or decreases.
• Diseases of the liver: yellow coloration of the skin, mucous membranes, sclera of the eyes, frequent bouts of nausea, vomiting, intolerance to strong odors, complaints of abdominal pain (it can be difficult for a child of 2 years and even older to clearly indicate the place where it hurts), the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, decreased appetite.
• Ketonemia: nausea, stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea), dysregulation of the nervous system (in such children, the mood changes quickly and suddenly, causeless tears are frequent), poor appetite, pallor of the skin, a feverish blush may appear.
• Dehydration: bad breath, tearless crying, sharp facial features, stool disorders, dry skin and mucous membranes, allergic rashes.
• Poor hygiene: the baby has diaper rash, itching and rash, older children complain of discomfort, redness, swelling of the genitals, rubbing of these places with clothes.

Important! If a child has a strange smell of urine only in the morning, this may be due to stagnation of fluid during a night’s sleep. When it smells bad during the day, from the pot immediately after urination, you need to be examined by a pediatrician.

What to do?

If a child has urine with an unusual aroma 1 time – nothing, just observe his condition. If an unpleasant smell of urine persists in a child for 3-5 days, complaints, anxiety, incontinence and other symptoms appear, a doctor’s examination and examination is necessary.

Read also on the topic

Why does green urine form, is it dangerous?

It is worth starting the examination with urine and blood tests. Their indicators reveal violations from the effects of a cold to endocrine problems. The values ​​of proteins, leukocytes, ketone bodies, uric acid, sugar are important. With urine, special tests are carried out – according to Sulkovich, Amburge, Nechiporenko, they are sown on antibiotics in a nutrient medium. So determine the sensitivity of microbes to the drug. They take smears from the genitals, do an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis.

The treatment tactics will depend on why the child’s urine smells strongly. If the urine began to smell because of the disease, it is necessary to achieve its cure or remission. Antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, enzyme and other medicines are taken strictly according to the established scheme.

Important! You should carefully read the instructions in all medicines that are used by children. If there is a change in the smell and other properties of the child’s urine, you can ask the local doctor to choose another drug.

In cases of serious diseases (oncological, severe poisoning, advanced form of rickets), when the child has a strong smell of urine and there are other pronounced symptoms, surgical intervention is used. Genetic disorders require lifelong drug correction.

A sick child needs dietary food without heavy and unhealthy foods (spicy, salty, fatty, canned meat and fish, bacon, sweet pastries, fast food, snacks, convenience foods, instant noodles), a sufficient amount of liquid. It will flush the urinary tract and reduce odor if the child’s urine stinks. An infant should be supplemented with boiled purified water.

The following recommendations will help prevent a fetid odor in the urine of a child and improve his well-being during an exacerbation of the disease.

Prevention

Preventive measures are considered as part of the treatment regimen for urinary disorders. Parents should monitor the smell of children’s urine in order to identify the problem in a timely manner. Sometimes, prevention and normalization of lifestyle may be enough if the child’s urine smells.

• Ensure plenty of fluids (2-3 liters per day). A child up to a year must be supplemented with water; at an older age, homemade compotes, fruit drinks, and rosehip broth are suitable.
• In case of severe dehydration, the liquid should be enriched with salts and minerals. The pharmacy sells special rehydrating powders (Rehydron, Humana Electrolyte, Trihydrosol), which must be diluted in water. If the child is very ill, there is no way to go to the pharmacy, first aid can be provided with home remedies. Dr. Komarovsky in his program recommends mixing boiled water, table salt and sugar. This prescription is approved by WHO and is acceptable for use in the smallest.
• Reduce the amount of sweets, fast food and carbonated drinks in children’s diet. So that the urine of the baby does not change its aroma during the introduction of complementary foods, new products should be given little by little.
• Mothers should also avoid spicy, fatty foods, smoking and alcohol while breastfeeding. If a woman smells a strange smell of baby urine, she should go on a diet for a few days to rule out the relationship.
• Monitor the cleanliness of the child’s skin – timely change of diapers, teaching the rules of self-washing, the importance of personal hygiene, teenagers should be told about the means and the obligation of contraception.
• Try to reduce the amount of stress, emotional stress, especially during the school period.
• Choose extracurricular activities that avoid hypothermia – not swimming or hockey. Encourage your child to wear seasonal clothing.
• Monitor the regularity of stool and urination, the smell of secretions. It is important for children of conscious age to explain that it is harmful to endure for a long time (at night, in class, during the game), if you want to go to the toilet.

When parents feel that the child’s urine has become smelly, you need to pay attention to what and how much he eats and drinks. It is especially dangerous when there is a fetid smell of urine in infants. In this case, do not postpone a visit to the pediatrician.

Like this article? Share with friends!

why does it smell, what research should be done?

The color, quantity and smell of urine can tell a lot about the processes taking place in the body. What to do if the baby’s urine starts to smell bad? This may indicate severe hereditary pathologies, infections, endocrine disorders. However, an unpleasant odor does not always indicate an illness. Perhaps the child just needs to change the diet and drink more water. Consider what the unpleasant smell of urine in a child says.

Contents

• 1. What should the normal smell of urine be?
• 2. Factors affecting the change in the smell of urine
• 3. What does an unpleasant pungent odor indicate?
  • 3.1. Ammonia smell
  • 3.2. Urine smells like acetone
  • 3.3. Smell of rotten fish
  • 3.4. Mouse smell
  • 3.5. The smell of burnt sugar
• 4. What should parents do?
• 5. Related video
• 6. Comments of visitors on the topic of the article

What should be the smell of urine normally?

What does a normal child’s urine smell like? In newborns who were born a few weeks ago, the urine is almost colorless and odorless. It looks more like clear water.

As the diet changes, so does the urine. Complementary foods affect its color, and with its introduction, the liquid begins to smell differently. A slight smell that cannot be called unpleasant is the norm for a one-year-old child.

Slight odor is normal. Urine is a waste product, along with it, substances formed as a result of metabolism are excreted. Like all bodily secretions, it smells. A pungent and strong smell should alert you – it may indicate violations in the body.

Factors affecting the change in the smell of urine

Why does urine smell strange? There may be several reasons, and not all of them are a symptom of the disease:

READ ALSO: Why can a child’s urine contain a lot of leukocytes?

1. Hormonal changes. With the onset of puberty in the body of a teenager, hormones begin to be produced that affect all vital processes, including the urinary system. Excessive secretion of the glands provokes an unpleasant odor from the genitals. From the age of 10-12, the child should devote more time to personal hygiene.
2. Dehydration. A characteristic feature is the rich orange color of urine and its sharp, strong smell. This is due to the high concentration of metabolic products in the urine and the low fluid content. The baby needs to be given more to drink, and the condition is normalized.
3. Change in diet. Certain foods can affect how urine smells. These include onions, garlic, cabbage. If the baby is breastfed, then the mother’s diet affects the smell of urine.

What does an unpleasant pungent odor indicate?

What does the strong smell of urine in a child indicate? It can be a symptom of a disease of the genitourinary tract or the endocrine system. By the way the urine of the baby smells, an experienced doctor can detect the presence of a specific disease. Feeling the changes, parents can suspect problems in the work of the child’s body in time and seek help from a pediatrician.

Ammonia smell

A small amount of ammonia in the urine is normal for humans. It is formed when urea is broken down by aerobic bacteria. However, ammonia should evaporate almost instantly after urination, so when urine retains a persistent, pungent smell of ammonia, this indicates diseases of the internal organs. The first thing to do if it is available is to donate blood for sugar. Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by just such symptoms.

Intense physical activity, emotional stress also affect the urine of the child, because of which the urine smells like ammonia. To eliminate an unpleasant problem, it is enough to give the child a rest, review the daily routine, and, if necessary, give sedatives.

A similar symptom is also formed when the diet is changed, when new products are introduced into food at 1-2 years of age. It appears if the food is too saturated with proteins, and not enough carbohydrates and fats are supplied. He also talks about dehydration. The baby needs to change the diet and drink more fluids.

Urine smells like acetone

If urine smells like acetone, this indicates the presence of acetonemic syndrome, which is characterized by an increase in the concentration of ketones in the blood plasma. With a sharp drop in the amount of glucose, ketone bodies are synthesized, which are an alternative source of energy for the body. When the rate of synthesis of ketones prevails over the rate of their utilization, they are excreted through the genitourinary and respiratory systems unchanged. Hence the characteristic smell of acetone in the urine and human breath.

The cause of the development of acetonemic syndrome can be prolonged starvation, improper diet or infection. However, the smell of acetone is also present in diabetes mellitus, therefore, if there is a similar symptom, the parent needs to urgently take the baby to the doctor.

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs due to a lack of insulin, resulting in the accumulation of excess amounts of glucose and ketone bodies in the blood, which should normally be broken down by the kidneys. Ketoacidosis is usually accompanied by severe vomiting, abdominal cramps, dehydration, and intoxication.

Smell of rotten fish

If a child’s urine smells of rotten fish, this indicates the accumulation of trimethylamine in the body. Trimethylaminuria is a genetic disorder in which trimethylamine is not broken down by the liver.

Normally, the enzyme flavin monooxygenase-3 breaks down trimethylamine into odorless components. However, in a genetic disorder, the gene that should code for the enzyme is missing. As a result, the liver cannot utilize this substance and it accumulates in the body. Not only urine, but also breath, skin, sweat begin to exude the aroma of fish. Unfortunately, this subsequently affects the social life of a person. It is especially difficult for a child who is beginning to be avoided by peers.

The smell of rotten fish from newborns may indicate the presence of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) such as chlamydia. An infant can become infected during the passage of the birth canal from the mother, so a woman needs to be tested for STDs before conceiving a child or during pregnancy.

Mouse smell

Phenylketonuria is a genetic pathology in which the body lacks the enzyme phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase. This liver enzyme promotes the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. With phenylketonuria, mutations occur in the gene encoding this enzyme, which contributes to the accumulation of phenylalanine.

One of the symptoms of phenylketonuria is the mousy smell of urine in infants. If parents feel that the urine in a baby’s diaper smells like mice, they should immediately consult a doctor. Phenylketonuria is a dangerous pathology in which severe damage to the central nervous system occurs, mental and mental retardation occurs.

Is it possible to prevent the severe consequences of pathology? Yes, if you put the baby on a low-protein diet from birth. To do this, it is necessary to diagnose the disease as early as possible and begin treatment.

Smell of burnt sugar

Baby has a distinct smell of burnt sugar in urine – what does this mean? This is a sign of a dangerous hereditary pathology called leucinosis. Another name for pathology is maple syrup disease. There is a disease in 1 infant per 120-300 thousand newborns.

Normally, enzymes carry out oxidative decarboxylation of amino acids – valine, leucine and isoleucine. With leucinosis, decarboxylation does not occur due to inhibition of the enzymatic process, amino acids accumulate in the body.

Pathology leads to severe lesions of the central nervous system. The course of the disease is accompanied by hypoglycemia, hypotension, vomiting. Often the disease ends in death. The life of the baby depends on how quickly the parents have time to react and consult a doctor. In some regions, screening for leucinosis is part of the newborn screening program.

What should parents do?

What should parents do if their child’s urine smells bad? If this is a one-time phenomenon that appeared and disappeared the next day, then you should not worry. Many factors influence smell, including food and the amount of liquid.

If urine begins to smell bad after the introduction of complementary foods, then you should change the diet and give another product.