Can smelly urine be serious?

See a GP if:
you have smelly pee and: you need to pee suddenly, more often than usual, or during the night. you have pain or a burning sensation when peeing.
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Is smelly urine anything to worry about?

Urine often has a slight ammonia smell, especially first thing in the morning or when a person is dehydrated. Smelly urine can also be a sign of an infection, however, so if the smell does not go away on its own, or if additional symptoms develop, see a doctor.
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Why does my urine have a very foul smell?

Changes in the smell of your urine may be the first sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Soon after, you may begin to experience pain when you urinate. The smell is caused by bacteria in your urine. The bacteria can grow and spread into other parts of your urinary tract, like your bladder or kidneys.
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Should I go to the doctor if my urine smells?

Urine normally has a slight smell, but some unusual and strong smells may also be noticed. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, or bloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor.
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What does diabetic urine smell like?

Hyperglycemia and diabetes

High blood sugar is a tell-tale sign of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, you may notice your pee smells sweet or fruity. This is because the body is trying to get rid of the excess blood sugar and is disposing of glucose through your urine.
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9 Causes of Smelly Urine | How to Fix Urine Odor | #DeepDives



What does UTI smell like?

A UTI can cause bacteria from the infection to contaminate the urine, resulting in a distinct fishy smell. UTIs are more common in women than men. Other symptoms include: urine that is cloudy or bloody.
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What causes strong smelling urine in females?

Some foods and medications, such as asparagus or certain vitamins, can cause a noticeable urine odor, even in low concentrations. Sometimes, unusual urine odor indicates a medical condition or disease, such as: Cystitis (bladder inflammation) Dehydration.
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Why does my urine smell like sewage?

It's usually caused either by a UTI or an imbalance of “good” and “bad” bacteria naturally found within the body. When caused by bacteria, the bacteria will affect the urine as it sits in or passes through the bladder. This can lead to strong, sulfur-smelling urine.
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Does diabetes make your pee smell?

Diabetes: Strong sweet-smelling urine is a sign of advanced diabetes, which can be diagnosed with urinalysis. With advanced diabetes, sugar and ketones, which are normally absent, can accumulate in the urine and create a strong odor.
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What is a natural remedy for smelly urine?

Drink Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice increases the acidity of urine, which can reduce odor.
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Can urine smell sweet without diabetes?

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.
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What are the 5 warning signs of bladder infection?

5 Signs of a UTI
  • Frequent urination. UTIs cause a strong and persistent urge to urinate. ...
  • Burning sensation when urinating. ...
  • Pink or red urine. ...
  • Releasing small amounts of urine. ...
  • Strong smelling urine.
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How do you tell if u have a bladder infection?

Symptoms
  1. A strong, persistent urge to urinate.
  2. A burning sensation when urinating.
  3. Passing frequent, small amounts of urine.
  4. Urine that appears cloudy.
  5. Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine.
  6. Strong-smelling urine.
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Should I be worried if my pee smells like fish?

Fishy-smelling urine may be the first indication of a mild or severe health problem. Some people may have no other symptoms or several. In either case, a person should contact a doctor if they cannot identify the cause of a fishy odor. A UTI occurs when too much harmful bacteria grow in the urinary tract.
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How do you know if a UTI has spread to your kidneys?

A kidney infection is, in essence, a UTI that has spread into the kidneys. While this type of infection is rare, it's also very dangerous and if you're experiencing any of the following signs of a kidney infection, you should see a doctor immediately: Upper back or side pain. Fever, shaking or chills.
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How do you know if you've got a kidney infection?

Symptoms of kidney infection

You can feel feverish, shivery, sick and have a pain in your back or side. In addition to feeling unwell like this, you may also have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) such as cystitis. These include: needing to pee suddenly or more often than usual.
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How can you tell the difference between a UTI and a bladder infection?

The most reliable sign of a UTI is a stinging or burning sensation with urination, though other symptoms may also occur. A bladder infection is a type of UTI that occurs specifically in your bladder. Think of it this way: Your urinary tract includes your urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys.
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Does a bladder infection smell?

While your pee may always smell differently if you drink a lot of coffee, you'll notice a particularly different smell if you have a bladder infection. It will have an off or funny smell that you aren't used to.
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What color is your pee when you have a UTI?

Is it a UTI? Urinary tract infections (UTIs) may also cause an abnormal appearance of the urine such as cloudiness, brown or red color, or an unusual smell.
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Does a UTI make you smell?

When there is an infection in the urinary tract, the urine may take on a foul-smelling odor as well as appear cloudy or bloody. A burning sensation during urination may be a symptom of a UTI.
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Why is my urine smell fishy?

Fish Odor Syndrome

Also called trimethylaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell. It happens when your body can't break down trimethylamine. You end up getting rid of the compound through your pee, sweat, breath, and other fluids. It doesn't mean you're unhealthy.
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What do ketones in urine smell like?

Ketones smell like acetone – like pear drops, or like nail-polish remover. DKA usually occurs in people with Type 1 diabetes, and is a medical emergency. "If diabetes remains undiagnosed or poorly controlled, high levels of glucose in the urine may make the urine smell sweet."
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How do you stop urine smell?

Take these steps to reduce the amount of odor your urine produces:
  1. Drink enough fluid.
  2. Get examined for possible infection.
  3. Change your diet.
  4. Drink cranberry juice.
  5. Take deodorizing tablets or Vitamin C.
  6. Controlling Odor With Cleaning and Incontinence Products.
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What does ammonia smell like in urine?

Why does my urine smell like ammonia? Urine does not usually have a strong odor to it. However, occasionally, it will have a pungent smell of ammonia. One explanation for an ammonia odor is high amounts of waste in the urine.
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Why does women's pee smell like ammonia?

Urine may smell like ammonia when it becomes concentrated with waste products. A variety of conditions can cause waste products to build up in urine, such as bladder stones, dehydration, and urinary tract infections. In most cases, urine that smells like ammonia can be treated with fluids or antibiotic medications.
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