Urine Odor
Urine odor is one of the physical properties evaluated during urinalysis. Normally, urine has a mild, specific but not sharp odor, which is due to metabolic products.
Changes in urine odor may indicate various physiological and pathological conditions of the body:
- Strong ammonia odor is often associated with bacterial urinary tract infections, as bacteria break down urea releasing ammonia.
- Acetone odor is characteristic of ketonuria, which occurs in diabetes, fasting, or metabolic disorders.
- Unpleasant putrid odor may indicate purulent processes and inflammation in the urinary tract.
- Sweet or fruity odor is sometimes observed in diabetes mellitus.
Assessment of urine odor helps additionally diagnose metabolic disorders, infections, and inflammatory processes, as well as monitor treatment effectiveness.