Strong foul-smelling urine in a child. Why does a child have a strong smell of urine

February 23

Changing the smell of urine small child serves as a signal for urgent appeal to pediatrician. The reasons for this condition can be completely natural, for example, a change in diet. But sometimes timely diagnosis and drug treatment help to eliminate pathology at an early stage. Some diseases are characterized Strong smell urine in a child.

Why does the smell of baby urine change?

In children older than 12 years, the smell of urine changes due to excessive production of biologically active substances by the endocrine glands. Hormonal restructuring in the body of adolescents greatly affects all systems of life, including the urinary tract. In this case, you should talk with your child about the obligatory observance of the rules of personal hygiene. But if the smell of urine is sharp, it smells like acetone or ammonia, you need to consult a specialist. Physical overwork can cause an unpleasant smell of urine in a child.

A natural cause of an unpleasant smell of urine in a newborn or a child under one year old can be a rare change of diapers, diapers, bed and underwear. In addition to the hygienic component, such negligence can provoke diaper rash and various allergic reactions: urticaria, dermatitis. The following factors also contribute to the change in the smell of urine:

  1. Changes in the diet. As they grow older, the list of products on the child's menu expands. Vegetables or marinades with a specific flavor (onion, garlic, ketchup) change the smell of urine, making it more caustic, pronounced.
  2. Dehydration. Extremely dangerous state for young children, it often occurs when poisoned by stale food or poisons of plant and animal origin. As a result of intoxication, the liquid begins to be released from the body with profuse vomiting and (or) diarrhea. The reason for the unpleasant and pungent smell of urine is its concentration.
  3. Vitamin D deficiency. Insufficient amount sun rays or lack of long walks leads to the development of rickets, the abnormal formation of the child's bones. In addition to the pungent smell of urine, newborns and one-year-olds have reduced appetite, poor hair growth, and increased sweating.
  4. Taking antibiotics. Antimicrobials give the baby's urine a specific "pharmacy" smell. As a rule, after recovery or a change in medicines, all indicators return to normal.
  5. If the baby is on breastfeeding, then the smell of his urine can change dramatically after the mother consumes a new unusual product. For example, White cabbage or asparagus have the ability to change the smell of urine.
  6. Rhinitis. Prolonged nasal congestion reduces the metabolic processes in the baby's body, in which the presence of molecular oxygen is mandatory. This condition leads to dehydration. The pungent smell of urine disappears immediately after recovery.

A child's urine always starts to smell bad with the flu or SARS. Colds proceed against the background of significant dehydration of the body. The baby has no appetite, due to occasional hyperthermia, vomiting may open. An increase in temperature contributes to an increase in sweating, which thickens the urine, making it concentrated. Lack of fluid provokes an unpleasant smell of urine in a child.

A strong smell of urine in a child occurs when breastfeeding

Pathological causes

Not All Causes of Strange Urine Smell Can Be Eliminated frequent change diapers or a change in diet. This condition occurs when the functional activity of one or more vital systems decreases. Therefore, if parents notice that the baby's urine began to smell bad, you should contact your pediatrician. For the convenience of diagnosing, doctors use the following classification of smells of baby urine:

  1. Ammonia. A very pronounced indicator of disruption of the urinary system. Pathology is provoked by improper functioning of the endocrine glands. An excess amount of ketone bodies is released into the blood and then into the urine. The main cause of the pathology is diabetes mellitus or acetonemia. Symptoms of the disease also include increased thirst, a sharp decline body weight, urination disorders, increased dryness of the skin and mucous membranes. If the above symptoms are absent, but the child's urine has acquired dark color- in one of the departments of the urinary system, an infectious focus was formed.
  2. Acetone. Acetone-smelling urine may appear in mobile or excitable babies. With increased emotional and physical stress, the concentration of ketones in urine increases. In most cases, no treatment is required. It is necessary to adjust the child's daily routine, control games and meals. Sometimes the cause of this condition is emotional stress, for example, when you change your place of residence or divorce your parents. For a complete cure, you will need to consult a child psychologist.
  3. Rotten fish. Parents are almost always ready for such changes, as they are warned about the diagnosis of the baby. This condition occurs when there is a certain genetic disease. Not only the urine of the child smells unpleasant, but also the sweat emitted by the children, the vapors of the exhaled air.
  4. Mouse. A pronounced symptom of phenylketonuria, a congenital, genetically determined pathology. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of the amino acid and its metabolic products in the urine. Phenylketonuria occurs against the background of an extensive lesion of the central nervous system.

Leucinosis, or branched chain ketonuria, is accompanied by the smell of burnt sugar with every urination. The cause of the congenital disease was genetic predisposition. The functional activity of the system responsible for the production of enzymes gradually decreases. Important amino acids do not undergo oxidation, which gives urine a peculiar strong smell. This pathology is diagnosed immediately after the birth of the child, requires long-term drug therapy.

Colds provoke changes in the smell of urine in babies

Diseases of the urinary system

The main factor in changing the smell of urine in young children are kidney pathologies, urinary tract And Bladder. One of the most common causes of a strong unpleasant odor is inflammatory process. After a pathogen enters the baby's body, it the immune system begins to produce white blood cells to fight the infectious agent.

But due to the not yet formed immunity and high permeability blood vessels in children, the disease begins to progress. In addition to the fact that, parents should pay attention to the following symptoms:

  1. The child rarely visits the toilet.
  2. The kid complains of cramps during each urination, pain in the abdomen and lower back.
  3. Urine became cloudy, sometimes with impurities of fresh blood or clots, flakes, curdled sediment.

Why the smell of urine changes in a child: pathogenic microorganisms and damaged white blood cells accumulate in the biological fluid. Rare urination lead to thickening of urine, provoke the spread of inflammation, because pathogenic bacteria remain in the baby's body. This condition occurs with cystitis, glomerulonephritis, urethritis, pyelonephritis.

The appearance of an unpleasant odor is always the first sign of diseases of the urinary system. How earlier parents consult a pediatrician, the sooner treatment will begin. Moreover, acceptance antimicrobial agents help avoid negative consequences(renal failure, chronic cystitis).

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder can develop not through the fault of viruses and microbes, but after taking certain pharmacological drugs. Since there are no pathogenic microorganisms, the urine smells like penicillin. Parents need to pay attention to the appearance of the smell of fresh rot when urinating a child. This is characteristic of a sluggish chronic disease of the kidneys or bladder with the formation of purulent discharge.

Sudden changes in the diet of children contribute to the appearance of an unpleasant smell of urine

What parents need to do

When the smell of the baby's urine has changed, but the next day everything returned to normal, then you should not sound the alarm. Most likely, the child ate something unusual or was too tired for a walk. If there is an unpleasant odor after each urination, it is necessary to visit children's doctor. Laboratory tests will be carried out for the content in the urine:

  • leukocytes;
  • uric acid and its salts;
  • proteins and their decay products;
  • ketones.

If an inflammatory process is suspected in one of the organs of the urinary system, a biological sample is sown in a nutrient medium. By the number of formed colonies, one can judge the presence of an infectious focus and the degree of its spread. The appearance of an unpleasant smell of urine serves as a signal for a study on the sugar content.

In order to eliminate dehydration, you should give the baby clean water rather than sugary sodas. With a high temperature or severe vomiting, pediatricians recommend special saline solutions that are sold in pharmacies. If the child refuses to take such a medicine, it should be "drink" - give a tablespoon of the drug every 15-20 minutes. After the normalization of the water-salt balance, the unpleasant smell of the urine of young children disappears.

Urine in a baby is practically odorless, so it is not strange that the unpleasant smell of urine in a child causes concern among parents. It is important to understand when these concerns should be taken into account and when not. In a newborn, urine does not smell at all, as they grow older and introduce complementary foods, an unobtrusive, mild smell, which over time is similar to the amber of the urine of an older person. But what if it smells strongly of medicine (penicillin) or acetone is found in the child's urine?

The stench of your child's urine may indicate an illness or an unhealthy diet.

What smell should be normal?

In newborns, urine is clear, yellowish in color and does not emit any specific odor. In older children, it is a little brighter in color (depending on the food and the amount of liquid drunk), has a kind of "aroma". But amber should not be a sharp, specific and cutting scent. Of course, there are one-time cases when urine smells in children up to a year and older. This is due to minor malfunctions in the urinary organs or as a result of a change in the baby's menu. This arrangement should not scare parents. But if this situation has been going on for several days and the baby is capricious or complains of feeling unwell, and urine smells bad, then you need to consult a doctor. Most likely, this is a signal about the violation of the robots of one or another organ of the child.

What changes worry parents?

The answer to this question is quite simple: “Everything!”. Moms and dads start to panic when their child's urine stinks of acetone, ammonia, rotten apples, apple juice, sour, sharp, "fishy", "mouse" or "cat". The smell of urine in a month-old or one-year-old baby has changed - a doctor's consultation is necessary. The strong smell of urine with medicines (penicillin) can lead to anxiety.

smell of ammonia

The most common and most dangerous is the unpleasant smell of urine, which gives off an ammonia odor. If this happened to your child, then you need to urgently contact a pediatrician. With almost 100% certainty, we can say that the child has health problems. It is quite difficult to determine the cause, because an unpleasant odor indicates a lot of diseases:

  • diabetes;
  • acetonemia;
  • bacteria;
  • infections of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis);
  • with the accumulation of toxic substances.

The smell of acetone

With an increase in ketones in the blood, it is excessively excreted in children's urine and this leads to an unpleasant odor in the form of acetone. The main reasons are considered excessive physical and emotional stress. To prevent the appearance of acetone in the blood and excrement, prevent hunger and overwork in the child. In order to prevent the formation of ketones, give the baby sweets.

Smells like stale fish

Parents should be alerted by the unpleasant pungent smell of urine in a child, similar to the "aroma" of rotten fish. If the smell comes not only from urine, but also from the skin, sweat, air exhaled by the child, then, most likely, trimethylamine has accumulated in the body in large quantities, which causes trimethylaminuria. This is a rare genetic disease, for the treatment of which the right diet is of great importance.

The main causes of a sharp and unpleasant smell of urine in a child

There are a lot of reasons that make urine unpleasant for our nose. The most common include:

  • Lack of fluid in the body. More often occurs in the hot season, when water supplies are constantly leaving and are not replenished in time. The easiest way to solve this problem is to water the child more. It also applies to babies who are on the chest or artificial feeding. In the summer, it is important to supplement the baby.
  • Child's taste preferences. It is pronounced when switching from breast or artificial feeding to an adult table. Another unpleasant smell of urine appears with a change in diet and preference for products with a pronounced odor (onion, garlic, cabbage, spicy, etc.).

  • Non-sterile or poor quality underwear, diaper. To determine whether this is so, you need to compare the urine that is on the linen / diaper with urine collected in a sterile container. If there are differences, then this is the reason. It is not difficult to solve the problem - you just have to change the underwear and the brand of the diaper.
  • Adolescents may experience hormonal changes. As a result, it appears bad smell at urine. This situation is temporary, but all the same, an “almost” adult should be taught proper care behind the body.

Diseases of the internal organs

Other causes of bad smelling urine are often health problems:


The stench of children's urine may indicate pathology genitourinary system or liver, vitaminosis.
  • if the child was previously sick and took antibiotics or other medications, then the reasons for the unpleasant smell of urine are precisely in this;
  • much more dangerous are diseases of the urinary system;
  • an unpleasant smell of urine in a child under one year old sometimes indicates a lack of vitamin D and, possibly, the development of rickets;
  • strange urine that stinks and has become dark in color indicates problems with the liver.

In infants, urine is usually colorless and odorless. As the child's diet grows and expands, urine acquires a natural smell, just like in adults. The smell should be light, barely perceptible. A specific, pungent odor can mean the development of a serious pathology.

Such a sign in children cannot be ignored, you need to contact a pediatrician and find out the cause of its occurrence. Bad smell can make poor-quality diapers after getting wet. And non-compliance with hygiene contributes to the ingress of pathogens on the underwear, into the urethra and the occurrence of unpleasant odors. At puberty (after 12 years), an increase in the smell of urine causes increased production of hormones.

In infants, urine is usually colorless and odorless.

Responsible parents should contact the pediatrician in a timely manner if they find that the urine is cloudy, has changed color, and emits a strong odor. Then the treatment will be successful, not too long and without the use of strong drugs, medicine has every opportunity for this.

Parents should be careful about this important feature in young children who cannot yet tell what is bothering them. The fact that urine smells is a natural indicator of a condition. internal organs the baby and the functioning of the main body systems.

Causes of urine odor

The strong, unpleasant odor of the secreted liquid causes different reasons, but the most common are diseases of the kidneys, bladder, urinary tract. In addition to this symptom, there are pains in the abdomen, in the lower back. Urine becomes cloudy with urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis. Boys develop urethritis due to inflammation in the lower part of the urethra, girls develop cystitis, which is facilitated by their anatomical structure - a short urethra.

The unpleasant odor of the released liquid is caused by various reasons.

Breastfed babies may react with an unpleasant odor of feces to their mother's liberties in nutrition.

Physiological reasons:

  • adding a variety of foods and spices, onions, garlic, which have a specific smell, to the child's diet;
  • dehydration of the body with diarrhea, profuse vomiting caused by food poisoning, loss of fluid in the heat (urine smells like acetone, ammonia);
  • taking antibiotics, medical preparations gives the smell of urine a chemical tint;
  • the development of rickets with a lack of vitamin D, in addition to the smell, is accompanied by slow growth, loss of appetite, sweating, hair loss;
  • respiratory diseases, nasal congestion, rhinitis, high fever can cause a change in the smell of urine.

After eliminating such non-dangerous causes, urine indicators return to normal. It is important to observe a full-fledged drinking regimen, often give the child water to prevent water imbalance (in the heat or at high temperatures).

Pathological causes:

MPS diseases, malfunctions in the immune system, pathologies are not so harmless and require examination and timely adequate treatment.

Possible pathologies

In diseases of the urinary organs, urine emits the smell of ammonia, which can be caused by diabetes. This smell is caused by a lack of glucose, the ingress of ketone bodies into the urine in large quantities. Acetonemia signals damage to the digestive tract. Concomitant signs signal about diabetes: constant thirst, poor appetite, weight loss, dry skin.

If, in addition to an unusual aroma, the urine becomes dark in color, becomes cloudy, then the inflammation caused by the infection progresses in the MPS. Cystitis, urethritis are accompanied by pain in the abdomen, lower back and burning sensation during urination.

Other odors are less common: stale fish - with trimethylaminuria (felt at a distance), mouse (charm) - with phenylketonuria. This genetic diseases. The manifestations of trimethylaminuria (accumulation in the tissues of trimethylamine) can be easily reduced by following a diet that excludes fish, eggs, meat, legumes from the menu.

An infant can get chlamydia, ureaplasmosis from the mother, passing through the birth canal. Signs of these diseases: a specific smell and color of urine.

Diagnostics, treatment

With a sharp unusual smell of urine that lasts more than 3 days in a row, you need to pass general analysis urine and blood (required for sugar), bacteriological culture.

The smell of acetone appears due to the accumulation of toxic substances (the ingress of ketones into the urine) due to a violation of the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Ketones are chemical compounds involved in metabolism, they should not be in the urine of a child. Their appearance causes a glucose deficiency (possibly due to a lack of carbohydrates in the diet), in more serious cases - diabetes.

As a first aid, if the baby is overtired or very worried, he should be given sweet tea with honey or raisin decoction, a glucose solution, or at least candy.

A strong odor (acetone, chemical) is caused by bacteria during the development of infection in the MPS. Bakposev will allow you to determine the causative agent of the infection, the degree of development of the inflammatory process.

A sugar test will confirm or rule out diabetes as the cause of the pungent ammonia smell. The analysis is necessary for children predisposed to the disease, if there are diabetics among the next of kin.

Testing for sugar

With unpleasant changes in the smell, color, transparency of the child's urine, you should contact the pediatrician. He will refer you to a urologist after the tests. Metabolic disorders are treated by an endocrinologist, with hereditary diseases You will need the help of a geneticist and a nutritionist.

How the urine of a child smells, every mother can notice when she changes his diapers or diapers - usually the smell is barely noticeable, implicit. But infectious diseases, metabolic failures, improperly built nutrition and other factors can affect this indicator. The unpleasant smell of urine in a child cannot be ignored, you should immediately contact a pediatrician, because sometimes it can be a sign of serious abnormalities that require diagnosis and treatment.

The smell of urine in a child

Normal urine in infants or older children has a light yellow color, its smell is invisible, and if it is, it is not sharp. In no case can it give off acetone, ammonia, something acidic. Sometimes in connection with the use of certain foods (vegetables or fruits bright color, natural juices, fermented or fried foods) urine characteristics may change, but they quickly return to normal when the food is completely digested and the body removes metabolites.

If the smell or color of urine has changed and does not return to normal after 3-4 days, then you should be worried about this and contact your pediatrician to find the reasons for the deviation.

Most often, normal diuresis is violated by such factors:

  • infections in excretory system;
  • vitamin D deficiency;
  • diabetes;
  • acetonemia;
  • dehydration;
  • improper nutrition.

excretory system infections

Pathogenic bacteria are especially dangerous for young children, as their body and immune system continue to get used to new living conditions outside the mother's womb and are not yet able to repel the attacks of microbes. The urinary system can be affected by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Most often, they settle in the kidneys, bladder and urinary canal - the urethra, causing pyelonephritis, cystitis and urethritis, respectively.

Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is a non-specific inflammatory process in the tissues of the kidneys associated with infection of these organs. In children, and especially in infants, the disease is acute, causing vivid symptoms.

Urine changes its color, becomes darker and richer and acquires an unpleasant pungent odor. The child has a fever (38-40 degrees), fever appears. In severe cases, febrile convulsions are not excluded.

Intoxication of the body provokes nausea and vomiting, stool disorder, discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, bad breath, dark circles under the eyes.

Often there is pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. It is extremely difficult to identify this symptom in babies, since they cannot accurately indicate the place that hurts, and talk about pains that are “spilled” all over the stomach. In addition, the baby constantly cries, sleeps poorly, refuses to eat, loses weight without changes in the diet. Children of conscious age have irritability, hyperactivity, tearfulness.

Cystitis

Cystitis is an inflammatory process covering the mucous membranes of the bladder. It rarely develops as an independent disease, most often it is provoked by urethritis or pyelonephritis, as pathogenic microorganisms begin to spread down or up the excretory system. Symptoms of cystitis are not as acute as those of the previous disease:

  • urine acquires a dark yellow tint and an unpleasant odor;
  • urination becomes rare or frequent;
  • the baby's sleep worsens, he is tearful and irritable;
  • when urinating, painful sensations appear;
  • the temperature rises in rare cases, its rate can reach 38-39 degrees;
  • sometimes there is urinary incontinence in children of a conscious age.

Urethritis

Urethritis - infectious inflammatory disease urethra. More often it occurs in boys and is associated with the anatomical features of the structure of the genitourinary system. Signs of this pathology:

  • an unpleasant smell of urine, its color may not change, but turbidity is visible;
  • when urinating, there is a burning sensation, pain, sometimes white or yellowish discharge appears with pungent odor;
  • urination becomes more frequent, urine is excreted in small portions;
  • rarely urine can be with blood impurities;
  • an increase in temperature is observed only in acute cases;
  • the child is constantly irritable, he does not sleep well, often cries.

infectious diseases in childhood can give serious complications in the development of the genitourinary system, so parents should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment in order to maintain normal reproductive and excretory functions.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is important not only in the formation of strong bones and teeth - by regulating the exchange of calcium and phosphorus, it takes part in the metabolism of amino acids, preserving them after the digestion of food proteins for further synthesis of new peptides.

With a deficiency of this substance, the urine acquires a sharp ammonia smell. This is due to the accelerated breakdown of amino acids, and one of their final metabolites is toxic ammonia. IN normal conditions this substance is constantly dissolved in water and excreted from the body, but when it is too much, it changes the smell and color of urine, the baby may develop dark circles under the eyes, bad breath and other symptoms of intoxication.

Acetonemia

Acetonemia is a disorder in which the provision of the body energy goes not from glucose, but from ketone bodies. These substances are formed spontaneously and in small quantities, so they are quickly removed from the blood without causing harm. Some factors (viral diseases, sudden weight loss, severe stress, excess fat in the diet) increase the intensity of the synthesis of ketone bodies, its rate exceeds the utilization capacity of the body, and then the symptoms of the disorder appear.

Acetonemia in babies is characterized by such manifestations:

  • the appearance of an acetone odor in urine;
  • constantly elevated temperature body;
  • pale skin with an unhealthy blush;
  • weakness and lethargy, drowsiness, tearfulness;
  • dryness skin and mucous membranes;
  • spontaneous vomiting or indigestion.

Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is the most dangerous of the reasons why a baby's urine smells sickly - sweet, with a hint of acetone. Such changes appear due to the fact that the body accumulates ketone bodies. Their synthesis begins against the background of carbohydrate metabolism disorders and fatty acids caused by resistance to insulin, a hormone that lowers blood glucose levels.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus can develop during life and manifest itself in more adulthood, but sometimes babies face a severe form of pathology. It is necessary to recognize the symptoms of insulin resistance in time and contact an endocrinologist - since childhood, the child will have to inject the hormone daily to maintain normal life.

Features of nutrition and lack of water

The presence in the baby's diet of asparagus, cabbage, garlic, hot and spicy seasonings, horseradish, seafood (especially smoked fish), sweet in large quantities on an ongoing basis can lead to a change in the smell of urine. Such a “diet” also negatively affects digestion, and also causes allergic reactions, so it is important to balance the child’s diet.

Lack of water is another catalyst for bad smell in urine. It concentrates the metabolites of the body, enhancing its aroma and color intensity. Young children often do not drink water at all or drink very little, so parents should keep an eye on them. drinking regimen and offer the child clean warm water each hour.

What should parents do

The health of the child is very fragile, therefore, noting the change in the smell of urine, parents should contact the pediatrician. After examining the baby, he will prescribe a urine and blood test to determine diabetes and acetonemia, urine can be tested with ketone body test strips.

After the diagnosis is made, treatment will already be prescribed, which cannot be changed independently. Adults should not resort to folk methods, as many of them do not help, but can cause allergies and make you feel worse. In addition to drug therapy, the doctor will prescribe a diet that will facilitate the work of the kidneys. Sweets, smoked and salty, legumes, cabbage and some other foods are excluded from the diet.

A persistent change in the smell of urine in a baby should alert parents and become a reason for a visit to the pediatrician. Exist different factors affecting excretory function kidneys, to eliminate them, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis. Self-therapy rarely gives positive results, so you should not try to choose a diet or medication without consulting a doctor.

It is the direct responsibility of parents to control the health of the child. You need to pay attention to the most insignificant signs, because young children do not complain about symptoms that are obvious to adults. Strong-smelling urine is one of the ways that the baby's body can report the onset of the disease. What does unpleasant odor baby's urine?

Why does urine smell strongly in a child? Infectious diseases of the urinary tract

The pungent smell of urine in a baby is often associated with the penetration of an infection into the body and the development of an inflammatory process. The ammoniacal aroma of urine is a reason to suspect such diseases:

  1. Pyelonephritis. Kidney damage is accompanied by acute pain in the lower back and high temperature. The child may cry and not find a place for himself, because the discomfort is really very strong. There may be an increased urge to urinate, and the urine becomes not only fetid, but also cloudy.
  2. Urethritis. Inflammation of the urethra is slightly different in children of different sexes. Boys suffer from burning sensation when urinating, itching of the penis, mucous discharge. Girls complain of discomfort in the lower abdomen and frequent urination, which is accompanied by pain.
  3. Cystitis. Inflamed bladder - mostly women's problem therefore, the disease is rare in boys. Illness reveals itself frequent urges to empty the bladder and pain when urinating.

Diseases of the urinary system as "victims" are chosen by children with weakened immunity: in this case, the body cannot fight the infection and quickly "surrenders" to it. Hypothermia and a lack of vitamins in the child's diet have their effect.

Urine smells strongly in a child: causes - vitamin D deficiency

Rickets is a pathology that is often diagnosed in infants. The disease is directly related to insufficient intake of vitamin D. As a rule, by the age of three to four months, the child's internal reserves of this substance run out, which is why the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear:

  • sleep problems;
  • irritability and anxiety;
  • increased sweating;
  • the appearance of a small bald patch in the back of the head.

If the baby is difficult in itself, then such signs may go unnoticed. But after a few weeks, the lack of vitamin D manifests itself in full, in particular, the urine acquires a sharp ammonia smell. This is facilitated by a disturbed metabolism of amino acids associated with a deficiency of phosphorus and calcium.

If the child's urine began to stink precisely because of rickets, then the following signs of the disease should also be observed:

  1. Deformation of the thoracic region and ribs.
  2. Thickening in the area where the ribs join the sternum.
  3. Growth in the thickness of the bones of the forearm region.
  4. Thoracic kyphosis.
  5. Curvature of the legs (O- or X-shaped).

It is necessary to consult a doctor so that he selects medical procedures. The prognosis is favorable: as early as 2-3 years old, babies stop suffering from this disease.

It rarely happens that a child hereditary disease, in which the body simply does not absorb vitamin D. In such a situation, the unpleasant smell of urine is quite natural.

Why does my child's urine smell strongly? Acetonemia

Acetonemic syndrome is a set of symptoms associated with elevated plasma levels of ketones. The condition is predominantly characteristic of young children, its symptoms:

  1. Acetone smell emanating from urine and vomit.
  2. Elevated temperature (up to 38.5 C).
  3. Paleness of the face, accompanied by a blush.
  4. Drowsiness, general weakness.
  5. Violent bouts of vomiting.
  6. Dryness of the skin and mucous membranes.

Acetonemia develops in children whose menu is dominated by rich meat broths, fatty foods, canned food, chocolate, butter. The opposite reason is also possible: a sharp restriction in food can provoke acetonemic syndrome and cause a sharp smell of urine.
This pathology requires mandatory consultation at the doctor's. Before the visit of the pediatrician, parents should adequately water the child, but in no case should they overfeed if the baby refuses to eat.

Why does my child's urine smell like acetone? Diabetes

The sugary-sweet acetone aroma is a sign of diabetes. In addition to this symptom, there are:

  • increased thirst;
  • frequent urge to urinate;
  • weight loss;
  • itching and dry skin;
  • inflammation on the body that is difficult to treat.

Diabetes is a dangerous disease with serious complications. Therefore, the acetone smell of urine should be the reason for an early visit to the clinic and passing the glucose tolerance test.

The reason for the strong smell of urine in a child - nutritional features

Anything eaten by a child can affect the smell of urine. Particularly active in this sense:

  • asparagus;
  • cabbage;
  • garlic;
  • spicy seasonings;
  • horseradish;
  • seafood.

If the baby is not yet accustomed to an adult table and is bottle-fed, then a change in the aroma of urine may be associated with new mixture to which the body reacts in this way.

In breastfed babies, a strong smell of urine appears in cases where the mother includes in her diet any of the "dangerous" foods listed above.

A strong smell of urine in a child - why did it occur? Dehydration

Lack of fluid leads to the fact that the urine excreted from the body becomes undiluted, concentrated. The change in aroma to a pronounced and even unpleasant one is quite understandable.

Cases of dehydration are typical for such situations:

  • a small amount of water drunk by a child per day;
  • high temperature, which provokes increased sweating and the removal of fluid through the pores on the skin, and not with the participation of the kidneys;
  • diarrhea and vomiting, in particular accompanying rotavirus and intestinal infections.

Dehydration is much more dangerous for a child than for an adult. And than younger kid the more risky this situation is.

Any alarming change in the child's body is a potential symptom of a dangerous pathology. Better once again disturb the doctor than then treat the baby for a long time from the disease, First stage which was skipped.

Normally, urine has almost no odor. If there is an unpleasant smell of urine in a child, then this should alert parents. This condition can cause a number of pathologies that are dangerous to the health of the baby. Therefore, it is important to monitor the color and aroma of the biological fluid of children in order to detect deviations in time and carry out therapy on early stages diseases.

The appearance of stench in the urine of a child may indicate the presence pathological processes in organism.

What is the flavor of urine in healthy children?

In a newborn, the biofluid has yellowish tinge and virtually no odor. At 3 months, the baby's urine begins to have more bright color and smell. However, it is important to consider that it should not be bad and caustic, smell like penicillin, ammonia or acetone. In exceptional situations, the baby's urine may have a strange smell, which is due to minor malfunctions in the functioning of the urinary system or changes in the diet. Such cases should not cause parents to panic, since they are physiologically conditioned. If this condition does not go away for several days, then you should visit the hospital.

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What flavors can urine have?

Ammonia

The smell of ammonia is considered the most common and unsafe for the health of the baby. In almost all situations, this indicates the development of pathologies in the body. The following ailments provoke such an unpleasant odor:

  • diabetes;
  • ketonemia;
  • the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the body;
  • infectious diseases of the urinary system;
  • intoxication.

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Aroma of acetone

The smell of acetone in the urine of a child is due to an unbalanced diet.

When it accumulates in the blood a large number of ketones, they are excreted in the urine, which takes on an acetone odor. This condition can be provoked by debilitating physical exercise, and stressful situations and experiences in children. Doctors draw the attention of parents to the fact that it is possible to prevent a strong smell of acetone in infants up to a year old by controlling their diet. Little patients should not starve.

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Smell of stale fish

If the biological fluid one year old baby strange in appearance, it also begins to smell like rotten fish, this indicates pathologies in the body. In addition to urine, the aroma can also come from the skin, sweat, air that the little patient exhales. This condition is predominantly indicative of increased concentration in the body of trimethylamine, due to which trimethylaminuria develops.

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Why does smelly urine appear?

Diseases

When the biological fluid smells strongly, the following ailments can provoke this condition:

  • diseases of the urinary system, for example, cystitis, urethritis;
  • rickets, which is often caused by a lack of vitamin D in the body;
  • hepatic diseases;
  • kidney pathologies, including pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis.

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Other causes of a strong smell of urine in a child

A strong smell of urine in a child may appear due to the following factors:

  • Dehydration. Most often observed in the summer, when water leaves the body, but does not have time to be replenished in time.
  • Poor quality diapers or underwear. To check that this is the reason, you should collect the child's biological fluid in a sterile container and compare it with the one on the diaper or underwear. If the smell has changed, then you need to change hygiene items.
  • Violation hormonal background. It is observed in adolescents during adolescence.
  • The use of certain pharmaceuticals. Urine stinks with medicine, for example, because of antibacterial medications.

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Features of the bad smell of urine in infants

The unpleasant smell of urine in infants sometimes appears due to a change in diet.

A change in the aroma of the body fluid is often observed in a one-month-old baby when supplementary foods are given or the milk formula is changed. In addition, when a baby is breastfed, changing the diet of a nursing mother can also affect the smell of his urine. For example, if a woman has consumed cabbage or asparagus, the aroma of urine changes not only in her, but also in the child. In addition, babies can also suffer from dehydration. If such a situation is observed, then a small patient will need to be soldered.

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What to do and which doctor to contact?

If a one-year-old child smells bad urine for several days, then parents should not panic. However, when an unpleasant odor persists for more than 3 days, it is important to contact medical institution to the pediatrician. After the examination, the doctor will send the patient for tests, and if necessary, to the urologist. If the parents have a suspicion that the child may have acetone in the urine, you can check this at home. To do this, use special test strips, which are sold in pharmacy chains. If the child really has acetone, then the baby should be given glucose.

When parents associate a change in the smell of urine with dehydration, they will need to control the drinking regimen of a small patient. This is most relevant for diarrhea, vomiting and diseases that are accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Babies are given purified water, herbal teas, compotes. When the electrolyte-water balance is settled, the urine in babies should begin to smell as before.

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Diagnostic measures and treatment

The pediatrician sends the baby for tests that allow you to detect the presence of ketones, white blood cells, uric acid and proteins in the urine. If the doctor suspects inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, then bakposev of the biological fluid is prescribed. According to its results, the focus of infection and its spread can be seen. Tests that show blood sugar levels may also be prescribed, since the acetone smell of urine is often triggered by diabetes.

As for therapeutic measures, dehydration is eliminated by normalizing the drinking regimen of a small patient. At the same time, it is forbidden to give the child sweet sodas and unnatural juices, which only increase thirst. If vomiting and elevated body temperature are observed, then they resort to help. saline solutions which can be purchased at drugstores.

The correct dosage of the medication and the duration of its use is determined by the attending specialist, depending on the severity of the disease and individual features little patient.

The study of the causes of an unpleasant odor in the urine of a child is based on the analysis of urine, blood.

If the unpleasant odor of urine in children is provoked by inflammatory processes in the kidneys or bladder, treatment is carried out with antibacterial drugs that allow you to get rid of the infectious agent. Uroantiseptics are also used, which have an anti-inflammatory effect. In combination with traditional treatment doctors sometimes prescribe the use of traditional healers. It is recommended to use a decoction of cranberries, lingonberries. It is permissible to include in the menu of a child (over 3 years old) products that have a diuretic property. These include watermelons and green tea. Due to its diuretic effect, such food will remove pathogenic microorganisms that provoke inflammatory processes from the kidneys and bladder.

Why does urine smell bad in a child? Many parents who are faced with this problem and do not know how to get out of it would like to know the answer to this question. The pungent smell of urine in a child is an alarming and rather serious signal, which says that it is important for parents and their child to urgently consult a doctor. Although the unpleasant smell of urine in a child does not always indicate the development of diseases or pathological condition organism, since the urine of the child may smell due to a sharp change in diet, however, parents should still be vigilant and diagnose the body. Indeed, with its help it will be possible to understand what disease, characterized by a pungent smell of urine, develops in children's body, and how to quickly cure it?

Why is there a strong smell of urine?

In children whose age has reached 12 years, urine should change its smell on its own - this is due to the fact that the body begins to produce endocrine system certain substances that importance For normal development. Hormonal restructuring significantly affects all human organs - this also applies to the urinary system. IN this case it is important to explain to the child that he should carefully carry out personal hygiene.

The smell of urine in infants and children up to 9-12 months appears as a result of a rare change of diapers, bed linen or a diaper. This not only leads to pungent urine odors, but also causes many skin diseases.

These include:

  • dermatitis;
  • eczema;
  • diaper rash.

However, if urine smells strongly in an infant or child 1, 2 or more years old, this should be a serious reason to see a doctor, because the reasons for this phenomenon can be very different.

Doctors say that urine smells strongly from children in the following cases:

  1. Changes in the diet. If a child older than 3-5 years old began to smell like urine, this may be due to a change in diet, that is, the inclusion of certain products endowed with a strong and pungent odor. Such products include ketchup, onions, garlic, marinades or pickles. If the urine stinks for 1-2 days, and after that the smell disappears immediately, you should not sound the alarm, since this phenomenon develops quite often and does not cause health consequences or complications.
  2. Dehydration. If the urine begins to smell, and its smell is far from ordinary, the reason for this may be dehydration. This phenomenon can easily develop in a newborn and children under 1 month old. The reason for this is considered to be improperly prepared complementary foods or the ingress of toxic compounds into the body, which causes poisoning. And, as you know, during intoxication, profuse vomiting and diarrhea occur, as a result of which most of the fluid instantly leaves the body. In this case, a strange smell appears with an increased concentration of urine.
  3. Lack of vitamin D. Lack of walks or insufficient exposure of children to the sun causes rickets or improper formation of bones and joints. Especially often it will be unpleasant to smell the urine of the baby, as older children can go outside on their own. In addition to changing the smell of urine, the baby will also be disturbed slow growth hair loss, loss of appetite and increased sweating.

These reasons are the main ones in the appearance pungent odor urine. If the child is ill and unable to describe his condition, it is important to urgently consult a doctor with such children.

Additional Causes of Bad-Smelling Urine

Additional reasons for this phenomenon include:

  1. The use of antibiotics in treatment. Why does my child's urine smell strongly? The reasons for this phenomenon may be concluded in taking antibiotics. In this case, parents will notice that their child's urine will smell like a "pharmacy". Immediately after the abolition of one or another drug, the smell will stop changing and return to “normal”.
  2. Breast-feeding. If the baby smells bad, breastfeeding may be to blame, or rather, New Product included in mom's food. For example, asparagus or cabbage can significantly change the aroma of urine - in this case, there is no need to worry, as this phenomenon will soon pass when the baby's body gets used to different products.
  3. Rhinitis. An unpleasant odor can be heard from the body and from the child even if he has a long nasal congestion. This causes a violation of the penetration of molecular oxygen into the lung cavity, which leads to dehydration. And, as described earlier, given reason also leads to a strong and pungent odor of urine.
  4. The course of influenza or SARS. The smell of urine in a child 3 years of age and older may appear as a result of the course of colds. They cause hyperthermia, which often leads to vomiting. And increased sweating causes the urine to thicken, thereby making it highly concentrated. This is where the pungent smell of urine comes from, which can be eliminated only after a complete cure.
  5. Diseases of the urinary system. The reasons why a child's urine began to smell unpleasant may lie in the development of pathologies of the urinary organs. These include inflammation of the bladder, outflows, kidneys, and so on. All this leads to the appearance of bacteria in the urine, which lead to the formation of an unpleasant smell.

It is important to note that any type of urinary disease must necessarily be taken into account by parents, since the absence of its treatment leads to the development of serious and often life-threatening complications. If the smell of urine has changed, and it began to stink, this may be the main sign of the development of pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, urethritis, cystitis, and so on.

True, these pathologies can only develop in children whose age has passed 3 years, therefore, if urine began to smell during breastfeeding or when the child switched to new products, this symptom cannot be called the development of urinary diseases. It is important to note that the deterioration of the aroma of urine most often occurs if the child is sick with urinary pathologies for the second or third time.

The temperature in a child during the eruption of molars, symptoms and treatment

How the urine of a child smells, every mother can notice when she changes his diapers or diapers - usually the smell is barely noticeable, implicit. But infectious diseases, metabolic failures, improper nutrition and other factors can affect this indicator. The unpleasant smell of urine in a child cannot be ignored, you should immediately contact a pediatrician, because sometimes it can be a sign of serious abnormalities that require diagnosis and treatment.

The smell of urine in a child

Normal urine in infants or older children has a light yellow color, its smell is invisible, and if it is, it is not sharp. In no case can it give off acetone, ammonia, something acidic. Sometimes, due to the use of certain foods (vegetables or fruits of bright color, natural juices, pickled or fried foods), the characteristics of urine may change, but they quickly return to normal when the food is completely digested and the body removes metabolites.

If the smell or color of urine has changed and does not return to normal after 3-4 days, then you should be worried about this and contact your pediatrician to find the reasons for the deviation.

Most often, normal diuresis is violated by such factors:

  • infections in the excretory system;
  • vitamin D deficiency;
  • diabetes;
  • acetonemia;
  • dehydration;
  • improper nutrition.

excretory system infections

Pathogenic bacteria are especially dangerous for young children, as their body and immune system continue to get used to new living conditions outside the mother's womb and are not yet able to repel the attacks of microbes. The urinary system can be affected by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Most often, they settle in the kidneys, bladder and urinary canal - the urethra, causing pyelonephritis, respectively.

Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is a non-specific inflammatory process in the tissues of the kidneys associated with infection of these organs. In children, and especially in infants, the disease is acute, causing vivid symptoms.

Urine changes its color, becomes darker and richer and acquires an unpleasant pungent odor. The child has a fever (38-40 degrees), fever appears. In severe cases, febrile convulsions are not excluded.

Intoxication of the body provokes nausea and vomiting, stool disorder, discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, bad breath, dark circles under the eyes.

Often there is pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. It is extremely difficult to identify this symptom in babies, since they cannot accurately indicate the place that hurts, and talk about pains that are “spilled” all over the stomach. In addition, the baby constantly cries, sleeps poorly, refuses to eat, loses weight without changes in the diet. Children of conscious age have irritability, hyperactivity, tearfulness.

Cystitis

Cystitis is an inflammatory process covering the mucous membranes of the bladder. It rarely develops as an independent disease, most often it is provoked by urethritis or pyelonephritis, as pathogenic microorganisms begin to spread down or up the excretory system. Symptoms of cystitis are not as acute as those of the previous disease:

  • urine acquires a dark yellow tint and an unpleasant odor;
  • urination becomes rare or frequent;
  • the baby's sleep worsens, he is tearful and irritable;
  • when urinating, painful sensations appear;
  • the temperature rises in rare cases, its rate can reach 38-39 degrees;
  • sometimes there is urinary incontinence in children of a conscious age.


Urethritis

Urethritis is an infectious inflammatory disease of the urethra. More often it occurs in boys and is associated with the anatomical features of the structure of the genitourinary system. Signs of this pathology:

  • an unpleasant odor of urine, its color may not change, but
  • when urinating, there is a burning sensation, pain, sometimes white or yellowish discharge with a pungent odor appears;
  • urination becomes more frequent, urine is excreted in small portions;
  • rarely urine can be with blood impurities;
  • an increase in temperature is observed only in acute cases;
  • the child is constantly irritable, he does not sleep well, often cries.

Infectious diseases in childhood can give serious complications in the development of the genitourinary system, so parents should immediately consult a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment in order to maintain normal reproductive and excretory functions.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is important not only in the formation of strong bones and teeth - by regulating the exchange of calcium and phosphorus, it takes part in the metabolism of amino acids, preserving them after the digestion of food proteins for further synthesis of new peptides.

With a deficiency of this substance, the urine acquires a sharp ammonia smell. This is due to the accelerated breakdown of amino acids, and one of their final metabolites is toxic ammonia. Under normal conditions, this substance is constantly dissolved in water and excreted from the body, but when it is too much, it changes the smell and color of urine, the baby may develop dark circles under the eyes, bad breath and other symptoms of intoxication.


Acetonemia

Acetonemia is a disorder in which the energy supply to the body is not due to glucose, but due to ketone bodies. These substances are formed spontaneously and in small quantities, so they are quickly removed from the blood without causing harm. Some factors (viral diseases, sudden weight loss, severe stress, excess fat in the diet) increase the intensity of the synthesis of ketone bodies, its rate exceeds the utilization capacity of the body, and then the symptoms of the disorder appear.

Acetonemia in babies is characterized by such manifestations:

  • the appearance of an acetone odor in urine;
  • constantly elevated body temperature;
  • pale skin with an unhealthy blush;
  • weakness and lethargy, drowsiness, tearfulness;
  • dry skin and mucous membranes;
  • spontaneous vomiting or indigestion.

Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is the most dangerous of the reasons why a baby's urine smells sickly sweet, with a hint of acetone. Such changes appear due to the fact that ketone bodies accumulate in the body. Their synthesis begins against the background of a violation of the metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids, provoked by resistance to insulin, a hormone that reduces blood glucose levels.

Type 1 diabetes can develop throughout life and manifest itself at a more mature age, but sometimes babies experience a severe form of the pathology. It is necessary to recognize the symptoms of insulin resistance in time and contact an endocrinologist - since childhood, the child will have to inject the hormone daily to maintain normal life.


Features of nutrition and lack of water

The presence of cabbage, garlic, hot and spicy seasonings, horseradish, seafood (especially smoked fish), sweets in large quantities on an ongoing basis can lead to a change in the smell of urine. Such a “diet” also negatively affects digestion, and also causes allergic reactions, so it is important to balance the child’s diet.

Lack of water is another catalyst. It concentrates the metabolites of the body, enhancing its aroma and color intensity. Young children often do not drink water at all or drink very little, so parents should monitor their drinking regimen and offer the child clean, warm water every hour.

What should parents do

The health of the child is very fragile, therefore, noting the change in the smell of urine, parents should contact the pediatrician. After examining the baby, he will prescribe a urine and blood test, to determine diabetes mellitus and acetonemia, urine can be checked using test strips that react to ketone bodies.

After the diagnosis is made, treatment will already be prescribed, which cannot be changed independently. Adults should not resort to traditional methods, as many of them do not help, but can cause allergies and make you feel worse. In addition to drug therapy, the doctor will prescribe a diet that will facilitate the work of the kidneys. Sweets, smoked and salty, legumes, cabbage and some other foods are excluded from the diet.

A persistent change in the smell of urine in a baby should alert parents and become a reason for a visit to the pediatrician. There are various factors that affect the excretory function of the kidneys, to eliminate them, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis. Self-therapy rarely gives positive results, so you should not try to choose a diet or medication without consulting a doctor.