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.
Liver disease
Infections and diseases of the liver can produce high ammonia levels in the urine and the accompanying pungent odor. Ammonia levels in blood and urine will increase when the liver is not working as it should. Any continued ammonia odor in urine should be checked by a doctor.
This is because of the presence of toxins, which are normally processed by the liver, are passed through to the urine when the liver cannot properly deal with them. You may also notice that your urine has an unusually strong or pungent odor, and urination may become labored or painful as it thickens in consistency.
Liver disease can lead to high levels of ammonia in your urine, causing it to have an unpleasant smell. If left untreated, liver conditions can be fatal. Always see your doctor if you notice your urine has an unusual, ammonia-like odor.
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.
Liver disease and certain metabolic disorders may cause musty-smelling urine.
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.
Bilirubin in urine can be an early sign of liver damage. It may even show up before you have symptoms. So, your provider may order a bilirubin in urine test if you have a high risk for liver damage or disease because of: A family history of liver disease.
If cirrhosis gets worse, some of the symptoms and complications include: yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) vomiting blood. itchy skin.
When urine is highly concentrated, it contains more ammonia and less water. This can cause it to have a strong smell. Urine tends to be more concentrated when a person is dehydrated. This is often the case first thing in the morning or when a person does not drink enough water throughout the day.
People with cirrhosis of the liver have a life expectancy of between two and 12 years. If you have early-stage cirrhosis, treatment and lifestyle changes can help you live longer. People with advanced cirrhosis of the liver have a much shorter life expectancy.
Barring complications, the liver can repair itself completely and, within a month, the patient will show no signs of damage. However, sometimes the liver gets overwhelmed and can't repair itself completely, especially if it's still under attack from a virus, drug, or alcohol.
Stool That Smells Like Ammonia
Your large intestine produces ammonia when it digests protein. Your liver then neutralizes the ammonia and helps the body get rid of it. Ammonia smells from your stool may signal a problem with these organs, such as liver disease.
yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema) swelling in your abdomen caused by a build-up of fluid known as ascites. a high temperature and shivering attacks.
Acute liver failure can happen in as little as 48 hours. It's important to seek medical treatment at the first signs of trouble. These signs may include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and discomfort in your right side, just below your ribs.
Liver problems, such as liver disease, can damage your kidneys and consequently cause frequent urination.
Stage 1: Inflammation
In the early stages of liver disease, the liver will become swollen or inflamed as the body's natural response to injury. Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, can also occur when there are more toxins in the blood than the liver is able to manage. The earlier the diagnosis, the better.
Urine usually has a distinct odor, but under normal circumstances, the odor is relatively mild and not too noticeable. Certain conditions, however, may cause your urine to have an unusual or unpleasant odor, which may raise concerns about a problem or abnormality.
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."
Severely ill patients often have characteristic smells. Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis have the fruity smell of ketones, although a substantial number of people are unable to detect this. Foetor hepaticus is a feature of severe liver disease; a sweet and musty smell both on the breath and in urine.
02/5How your breath smells when you have fatty liver
One of the peculiar symptoms of the fatty liver disease is having "breath of the dead". Also known as Fetor hepaticus, the breath of the dead is a chronic odour in your breath and can be easily distinguished from your normal breath.