The kidneys produce urine after filtering waste products and excess water from the blood. Healthy urine does not usually have an offensive smell and may have no odor at all. The odor of urine can vary from sweet to foul smelling. A variety of things can change the way urine smells. Some conditions that cause an odor in urine are harmless and the smell is temporary. Other times, a foul smell to urine indicates a medical problem. Recognizing the dangerous causes of foul urine smells is important so medical treatments can begin.
Urinary Tract Infection
Bacteria can enter the urinary system and cause an infection. A bacterial infection in the bladder or kidneys can cause a foul odor in the urine, according to MayoClinic.com. Antibiotics treat the bacterial infection and the odor will disappear. A fistula, or a hole, between the rectum and the urinary system can cause stool and bacteria to pass into the urine and cause a foul odor due to an infection.
Dehydration
A healthy individual with adequate fluid intake has diluted urine without an odor. Individuals with inadequate fluid intake or people with dehydration, have concentrated urine. Concentrated urine has an ammonia smell associated with it due to the increase amounts of ammonia byproduct to water ratio in the urine. Increasing water intake will decrease the concentration and odor of the urine.
Liver Failure
Individuals with liver failure may have a musty scent to their urine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This musty odor is due to the buildup of substances in the blood that the liver would normally filter, but is unable to due to damage. This musty odor in infants may also indicate a rare metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria, or PKU.
Diet
Certain foods and beverages can change the smell of urine. These urine odors are completely harmless and temporary. Common foods and drinks that can cause urine odor include onions, asparagus and coffee.
Diabetes
Individuals suffering from diabetes may have sweet smelling urine. This sweetness to the urine is due to the excessive amounts of sugar in the blood spilling into the urine. Without enough insulin in the body, diabetics cannot control their blood sugar levels. Without the ability to use sugar for energy, the body begins to breakdown fat for fuel. The breaking down of the fat causes ketones to enter the bloodstream. The ketones enter the urine and cause a sweet smell. This condition, known as diabetic ketoacidiosis, is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment. Any sign of sweet smelling urine is cause for concern.
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