What is strange smelling urine a symptom of?

Author: Prof. Deanna Stehr V  |  Last update: Saturday, June 14, 2025

Foul-smelling urine may be due to bacteria. Sweet-smelling urine may be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes or a rare disease of metabolism. Liver disease and certain metabolic disorders may cause musty-smelling urine.

Why does my pee smell weird all of a sudden?

Common causes of smelly pee

certain types of food and drink, like asparagus or coffee. not drinking enough fluids (dehydration) some medicines. vitamin B6 supplements.

What does liver failure urine smell like?

Foetor hepaticus is a feature of severe liver disease; a sweet and musty smell both on the breath and in urine.

What does kidney problem urine smell like?

Kidney disease causes chemicals in urine to become concentrated and to cause a smell resembling ammonia. Kidney dysfunction can also cause high urine bacteria and protein levels, contributing to an ammonia smell.

What does diabetes urine smell like?

A person with uncontrolled diabetes may have high blood glucose levels. The body tries to get rid of the extra glucose through urine, which can cause it to have a sweet smell, similar to honey. People with sweet-smelling urine due to diabetes may notice other symptoms, including: exhaustion.

9 Causes of Smelly Urine | How to Fix Urine Odor | #DeepDives

What do ketones in urine smell like?

When a person eats a lot of protein instead of carbohydrates, their body uses protein and stored fat for energy instead of using carbohydrates as it would usually do. As a result, the ketone level in the blood will rise. When these ketones leave the body in the urine, the urine may smell sweet or similar to popcorn.

What is a diabetic belly?

But that doesn't mean abdominal weight gain should be ignored. It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.

What does organ failure smell like?

Rarely, people can have bad breath because of organ failure. A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine. Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs. Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands.

What does chlamydia urine smell like?

Chlamydia discharge may not always have a noticeable odor. Sometimes, chlamydia doesn't cause any symptoms, so you might not notice any changes in discharge at all. However, when unusual discharge does happen, it might have a mild to unpleasant smell, which could be described as foul, musty, or even fishy.

What color is diabetic pee?

If you urinate often, and your pee is very light-colored or even clear, it could be a sign of diabetes.

Can thyroid problems make your urine smell?

There's no direct link between an underactive thyroid and sweet-smelling urine. Be aware, however, that autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism are associated with a significantly increased risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and a mixed autoimmune form called Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).

What are the four warning signs of a dying liver?

Symptoms of acute liver failure may include:
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyeballs, called jaundice.
  • Pain in the upper right belly area, called the abdomen.
  • A swollen belly, known as ascites.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • A general sense of feeling unwell, known as malaise.
  • Disorientation or confusion.
  • Sleepiness.

What does fatty liver smell like?

Healthcare providers who recognize the smell of fetor hepaticus have described it as musty, pungent, oddly sweet and occasionally fecal (poop-like). While smells are somewhat subjective and hard to define, fetor hepaticus is different from other bad breath smells that can accompany other conditions.

Why does my pee smell bad even though I drink a lot of water?

Strong-smelling urine could happen when you have had foods like asparagus, garlic, and onions or have conditions like a UTI, liver diseases, or kidney stones. Why does my urine smell bad? Your urine might smell bad if you're dehydrated or eat foods that can cause it to have a bad odor.

What medications cause urine to smell bad?

Foul-Smelling Urine: Vitamins & Medication
  • Sulfonamide antibiotics. An example is Bactrim, which is commonly used to treat UTIs.
  • Diabetes medications. These sulfa drugs are sold under the names Diabeta, Glynase PresTabs.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis medications. This sulfa drug is sold under the name of Azulfidine.

When should I be worried about smelly urine?

Most changes in urine odor are temporary and don't mean you have a serious illness, particularly if you have no other symptoms. When an unusual urine odor is caused by an underlying medical condition, there are other symptoms too. If you're concerned about the odor of your urine, talk to your doctor.

What does trichomoniasis smell like?

Trichomoniasis in women can cause: abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour. producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell.

What STD smells like urine?

A vagina that smells like ammonia is rarely a sign of a STI. However, some STIs are known to cause intense or foul-smelling urine, especially chlamydia. It is essential to get tested for STIs, as infections such as chlamydia often occur without symptoms.

What does fatty liver urine smell like?

Liver disease can make your pee and breath smell musty. The odor is caused by the buildup and release of toxins in your urine. If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom.

What does kidney failure smell like?

When the excess urea in your body reacts with saliva, it forms ammonia–which you then exhale through your breath. If you have CKD, this is what gives your breath that ammonia scent. The medical name for this is “uremic fetor”.

What autoimmune disease causes body odor?

Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a rare disorder in which the body is not able to metabolize the chemical trimethylamine, and this causes body odor.

What are the warning signs of ketoacidosis?

Signs and symptoms
  • Fast, deep breathing.
  • Dry skin and mouth.
  • Flushed face.
  • Fruity-smelling breath.
  • Headache.
  • Muscle stiffness or aches.
  • Being very tired.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

How to flatten a diabetic stomach?

While everything from slashing stress to eating fewer processed foods has been shown to help combat belly fat, exercise is one of the best things you can do to reduce weight in this area and live healthier with diabetes, says Pat Salber, MD, an internist and the founder of The Doctor Weighs In, who's based in Marin ...

What does a PCOS belly look like?

Common Symptoms That Might Indicate A PCOS Belly:

High Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Many women with PCOS have a waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87, which is often referred to as an apple body shape. No Noticeable Stomach Changes: Some women with PCOS may not experience any noticeable changes in their stomach size or shape.

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