Foetor hepaticus is a feature of severe liver disease; a sweet and musty smell both on the breath and in urine. It is caused by the excretion of dimethyl disulphide and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH)2, arising from an excess of methionine.
Liver disease and certain metabolic disorders may cause musty-smelling urine.
Urine that is dark orange, amber, cola-coloured or brown can be a sign of liver disease. The colour is due to too much bilirubin building up because the liver isn't breaking it down normally. Swollen abdomen (ascites).
Smelling of the breath is common after having certain food or in the morning, but with people suffering from fatty liver conditions, it remains throughout the day. The breath may have a distinct sulfur and musty smell throughout the day. It is an obvious sign of fatty liver disease and should not be ignored.
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.
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.
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.
High ketone levels cause your blood to become acidic and your body odor to be fruity. In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.
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.
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.
If you have cirrhosis and experience the following, call 911: Your poop (stools) are black and tarry or contain blood (may be maroon or bright red in color). You are vomiting blood. The whites of your eyes are turning yellow.
Patients with kidney disease or dehydration may have concentrated urine that contains an abnormally high level of waste products and smells like ammonia.
Why Does My Urine Smell Rotten? Foods that convert to sulfur compounds in your body can make your urine smell rotten. This smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions.
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.
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”.
Substances that cause fetor hepaticus
Trimethylamine is also increased in many patients with cirrhosis and may contribute to the odor of the breath.
This case highlights three important issues. First, ammonia odor of the ascitic fluid indicates bladder rupture. Bladder rupture can lead to intraperitoneal urine leakage, resulting in reversed intraperitoneal autodialysis.
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.
When your kidneys are failing, a high concentration and accumulation of substances lead to brown, red, or purple urine. Studies suggest the urine color is due to abnormal protein or sugar as well as high numbers of cellular casts and red and white blood cells.
Diabetes does not generally cause strong-smelling urine. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to urine that smells sweet or fruity.
Alcohol, acetone, or fetor hepaticus (from liver failure) can lead to a pungent or “fruity” smell.
Terry's nails is a type of nail discoloration. The nailbeds look “washed out,” except for a thin reddish-brown strip near the tip. Often, Terry's nails is a symptom of a chronic condition, such as liver failure or diabetes.