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What Causes Change In Smell Of Urine?

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Posted on Sat, 15 Nov 2014
Question: change in the smell of urine, not a UTI
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Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
can be benign

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
if you have done the urinalysis and it shows no WBC's then its not due to UTI. Numerous benign substances can change the colour and smell of the urine. Beets, blackberries, and rhubarb can temporarily turn urine pink or red.
Asparagus sometimes gives urine a greenish tinge and a distinctive smell, said to resemble rotting cabbage. The current consensus seems to be that some of us produce smelly urine after eating asparagus, and some of us do not, while some can detect the odor (in their own or others' urine) and some cannot.
Most changes in urine odor are not a sign of disease and go away in time. Some foods and medicines, including vitamins, may affect your urine's odour.
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.

Some conditions that can cause changes in urine odor include:

Bladder fistula
Bladder infection
Body is low on fluids (concentrated urine can smell like ammonia)
Poorly controlled diabetes (sweet smelling urine)
Liver failure
Ketonuria
Hope it helps. Please don't forget to rate and close the question.
Dr. Khan
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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What Causes Change In Smell Of Urine?

Brief Answer: can be benign Detailed Answer: Hi, if you have done the urinalysis and it shows no WBC's then its not due to UTI. Numerous benign substances can change the colour and smell of the urine. Beets, blackberries, and rhubarb can temporarily turn urine pink or red. Asparagus sometimes gives urine a greenish tinge and a distinctive smell, said to resemble rotting cabbage. The current consensus seems to be that some of us produce smelly urine after eating asparagus, and some of us do not, while some can detect the odor (in their own or others' urine) and some cannot. Most changes in urine odor are not a sign of disease and go away in time. Some foods and medicines, including vitamins, may affect your urine's odour. 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. Some conditions that can cause changes in urine odor include: Bladder fistula Bladder infection Body is low on fluids (concentrated urine can smell like ammonia) Poorly controlled diabetes (sweet smelling urine) Liver failure Ketonuria Hope it helps. Please don't forget to rate and close the question. Dr. Khan