What to do if the smell of your child’s urine changes? Strong unpleasant odor of urine in a child

In a healthy newborn baby, the urine is practically colorless. The smell is light or almost absent. Then, month after month, the baby’s body begins to work at full strength and the discharge takes on a more “adult” appearance, color and smell. Changes become noticeable already at the beginning of the transition from breastfeeding to artificial feeding.

The urine of adults also has a light, well-recognized odor. Any deviation from this norm, for example, the appearance of a pronounced unpleasant odor, changes in color or transparency are a reasonable cause for concern for parents. If your baby’s urine smells, it’s time to see a doctor who will find the cause of this manifestation.

For newborns and older children, a straw-yellowish color of urine with a subtle odor is considered normal. The presence of ammonia and sourish tints or a pronounced odor of acetone is unacceptable. Certain foods can cause changes in smell and color: citrus fruits, carrots, currants, natural vegetable and fruit juices. After some time, after these natural dyes are removed from the body, all characteristics return to normal.

A straw-yellow color of urine with a subtle odor is considered normal.

Persistent deviations of color and odor from the norm (more than 3 days) indicate the need to visit a pediatrician for consultation.

Possible causes of impaired daily diuresis may be:

lack of vitamin D;
diabetes;
dehydration of the body;
genitourinary infections;
acetonemia;
unbalanced diet.

Urine smells like ammonia

The appearance of a characteristic ammonia scent in children's urine is a clear sign of health problems in the baby and a signal for parents about the need for an urgent visit to pediatrician. And, although this symptom occurs quite often, diagnosis is complicated by a large number of possible diseases:

diabetes;
general intoxication of the body;
acetonemia;
cystitis;
viral diseases;
pyelonephritis.

The unpleasant smell of ammonia can indicate a number of diseases

Acetone in the urine of a baby

A critical decrease in glucose levels in children causes increased breakdown of fats and leads to the release ketone bodies(general name for beta-hydroxybutyric and acetoacetic acids, as well as acetone) with urine and breath. Feature child's body are small, in comparison with adults, sugar reserves in the liver, which in conditions of insufficient nutrition, frequent stress, physical activity and carbohydrate deficiency can lead to increased levels of ketones in the urine (acetone).

If you smell acetone, you need to test for the presence of ketones in your urine.

Preventive measures:

normalization of nutrition;
calm environment;
adequate physical activity;
sweets in the diet.

The smell of rotten fish

A fishy odor emanating from a baby’s fresh urine should be a serious cause for concern, especially when it is present in both exhaled air and skin secretions. These symptoms may be a sign of trimethylaminuria, a genetically determined metabolic disorder in the body. The reason for this pathology lies in an excess of trimethylamine, which is the source of the fishy smell. Important role Correct dietary choices play a role in the treatment of this rare disease.

What causes the change in urine odor (reasons and factors):

Impaired absorption and excretion of water in the body. Insufficient daily water consumption or its loss by the body in the heat and due to vomiting. A runny nose or other causes of difficulty breathing through the nose.
Switch to a different diet. Frequent consumption of spicy, fat- and protein-rich foods and catering dishes is one of the possible reasons appearance strong smell. Adding some vegetables to the diet: garlic, cabbage, horseradish, asparagus leads to a similar result. Breastfeeding mothers should monitor their diet to avoid it affecting the health of the baby.
Metabolic disorders in the body. The reason is the presence of diseases of a genetic nature
Application medicines, including antibiotics.
Use of low quality hygiene products(diapers, diapers). The result is an unpleasant morning amber.
Vitamin D deficiency (rickets). Before the age of one year, it can cause bad odor in urine, decreased quality of sleep, decreased appetite, and other symptoms characteristic of vitamin D deficiency.
Changes in the body during puberty. Hormonal turmoil is a difficult period for teenagers. It is important to teach them lessons in hygiene and the basics of caring for their body in a timely manner.
Diseases of the genitourinary system. Inflammatory processes in cases of urethritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis are another reason for changes in the smell of urine.
Diabetes. Characterized by copious discharge urine with a characteristic ammonia odor.
Liver diseases. Darkening of color and deterioration of odor.

Changes in urine odor may indicate health problems

The smell of urine in a baby is not the only indicator of health. You should also pay attention to the color of the baby’s urine. In newborns, the color of urine has its own characteristics. In the first months of life, it is light and transparently clean. As it matures, it tends to turn yellow. Observing its changes is an important component of parents' care for the baby's health.

Monitor not only the smell, but also the color of the urine

An insufficient amount of fluid leads to an increase in the concentration of salts in the feces, which causes a change in color towards its concentration and leads to irritation skin. Having discovered sudden changes color, transparency and concentration - hurry to see a doctor to find out the reasons.

Yellow urine in a baby

The yellowish tint of biological fluid is given by the substance bilirubin, which is produced by the liver and is metabolized into urobilin.

With age, diet baby food changes, which entails a change in the color of urine - it becomes more saturated. We also cannot ignore the influence of foods and various medications on color changes. So, to go from transparent yellow to orange or bright red, just eat carrots or beets.

Bilirubin gives yellowish color

A dark yellow tint may be a sign of the following diseases in the first months of a baby’s life:

increased concentration of bile pigments;
dehydration of the body (as a result of infectious intestinal diseases or stomach disorders);
liver diseases.

Orange urine in a newborn

If your child's urine is colored Orange color– a visit to the doctor is inevitable, since this is one of the signs:

high content of oxalate salts;
high body temperature;
diarrhea;
insufficient supply of water to the body;
vomiting.

If your baby's urine is orange, you should consult a doctor.

In the first days and months of life, babies’ immune systems are not yet ready to withstand the effects of pathogenic factors. The urinary system and its components - the kidneys, bladder, urethra - are especially susceptible to influence and are often affected by viral, fungal and bacterial infection. This leads to kidney diseases such as pyelonephritis, urinary canal - urethritis, bladder - cystitis.

Pyelonephritis

An infectious disease in which the renal pyelocaliceal system, and sometimes all kidney tissues, are affected by microorganisms and bacteria. In early childhood, symptoms become especially acute in infants.

Like any inflammatory process, pyelonephritis is accompanied by:

an increase in temperature (up to 39-40 o C) without signs of a cold;
darkening of urine and the appearance of a pungent odor;
changes in normal urine volumes;
fractional urination.

Pyelonephritis is characterized by high fever

In newborns, disorders are signaled frequent regurgitation, bowel irregularities, lag in weight gain. One of the common symptoms is pain in the lumbar region and lower abdomen, but it is difficult to identify them in small children, because they cannot yet accurately formulate their sensations.

Features of the disease in children under one year of age are the appearance of complex symptoms or asymptomatic progression. Diagnosing the disease is quite difficult, so increased attention to the health of infants is especially important.

Cystitis

The disease is caused by the penetration of pathogens and bacteria into the urinary system either from the kidneys or intestines (ascending) or from the urethra (descending). This leads to inflammation of the bladder mucosa.

Cystitis is characterized by signs of intoxication

It mainly occurs as a concomitant with pyelonephritis or urethritis, with the difference that the symptoms are not so pronounced.

urine is cloudy, dark, with flakes of mucus and a nasty smell;
false urge to urinate or, conversely, urinary incontinence;
in infants – refusal to eat, tearfulness, restless behavior;
the appearance of pain and pain when urinating;
signs of intoxication - high temperature, fever.

Urethritis

Inflammatory disease of the urethral mucosa ( urethra). By its nature it can be either infectious or non-infectious. Boys suffer from urethritis more often than girls (differences in the structure of the urinary system).

In boys, the disease is associated with anatomical features structure of the genitourinary system and is accompanied by a burning sensation when urinating, characteristic discharge white, decreased urine clarity, itching in the penis.

Girls have pain in the lower abdomen, frequent urination, itching in the external genitalia.

Urethritis is characterized by frequent urination

It should be noted that infectious diseases in young children are fraught with serious complications for the genitourinary system and reproductive function in the future, which means that parents should immediately take measures to identify the disease and promptly seek help from a pediatrician.

Vitamin D deficiency

The role of vitamin D in the formation of the skeletal system and teeth can hardly be overestimated. It helps the absorption of calcium and magnesium, ensuring strong bones, regulates the content of phosphorus and calcium in the blood, helps improve immunity, and participates in the metabolism of amino acids.

Vitamin D deficiency may also change the smell of urine

A pronounced ammonia smell in urine is evidence of a deficiency of this vitamin in the body. The reason is the abnormally rapid breakdown of amino acids and, as a consequence, the formation of excess ammonia. Normally, ammonia is excreted from the body with water, and if there is a lack of vitamin D, its excess leads to a change in the color and smell of urine with the formation of symptoms of intoxication, bad breath, dark spots under the eyes.

A painful condition manifested by glucose “starvation” of the body’s cells.

In a child’s body, glycogen reserves in the liver and muscles are often not enough to meet the body’s high energy demands, and there are no active enzymes to break down ketone bodies, which can also serve as a source of energy, which leads to their accumulation. The rate of ketone excretion in urine and breath is lower than the rate of their synthesis, resulting in the appearance of symptoms of the disorder.

Acetonemia is characterized by weakening of the body, nausea and vomiting.

Characteristic manifestations:

urine that smells like acetone;
persistently high temperature;
unhealthy pale skin, blush on the cheeks;
weakening of the body, tearful mood, irritability;
dry skin and mucous membranes;
acidosis, vomiting.

Diabetes

One of important reasons The appearance of a sweetish tint of acetone in children's urine may indicate the development of type 1 diabetes. Impaired insulin production makes it impossible for the body to utilize glucose, which forces it to begin restoring energy reserves through the metabolism of fats and, as a result, the accumulation of ketone bodies that are toxic to it.

The development of diabetes in a child will also affect the quality of urine

This disease affects people of all age groups, however, in most cases these are children and young people under thirty years of age. Recognizing the symptoms of the disease in a timely manner means getting medical help on time and avoiding serious consequences. After all, insulin injections for children with type 1 diabetes are a daily necessity.

Baby food and the role of water

Parents often underestimate the importance balanced nutrition for children. The abundance in the diet of sweet and spicy dishes, garlic, asparagus and cabbage, seafood has a bad influence on digestive system, causes changes in the color and odor of urine and may cause an allergic reaction.

Monitor your child's hydration

Water is the basis of the human body and its lack can lead to severe consequences. Metabolic products are removed from the body with water; when there is not enough of it, it malfunctions - concentration toxic substances increases in urine, changing its color and “aroma”. Kids know nothing about this and may not drink water for a long time. The task of parents is to remember to comply water regime and encourage children to drink water throughout the day.

Actions of parents for the benefit of children's health

The baby's immune system is just beginning to form. In the first year of life, his health depends on the efficiency of his parents’ actions in emergency situations. If you discover negative changes in your urine, you should not postpone your visit to the doctor. Examination, appointment and conduct of blood and urine tests will allow timely diagnosis of acetonemia and diabetes mellitus.

Having made a diagnosis, the doctor will make prescriptions, the strict implementation of which will help the child become healthy again. These could be medications, a special diet that facilitates the functioning of the kidneys, or a combination of everything.

You should not treat your baby without a doctor’s advice. traditional methods– this can cause harm and aggravate the situation, since parents cannot know about all the side effects and negative effects use of one or another means.

If there is a persistent change in the aroma of urine, you should urgently see a pediatrician. There are quite a lot of factors that can lead to such an effect, so diagnosis is the first step towards understanding the causes of the disease, and, therefore, its successful treatment. Self-administration of medications and dietary choices are not The best way help the baby.

The unpleasant smell of urine in a teenager is evidence hormonal changes, which takes place at the age of 12-14 years. If the baby has recently been born and is still very far from puberty, then the strong smell of urine in the child becomes a reason to seek medical attention. medical care. You can get a detailed consultation from an experienced pediatrician, who will refer the baby for a detailed examination, based on the results of which adequate treatment will be prescribed. If all the baby’s organs and systems are functioning normally, the aroma of urine is barely noticeable or completely absent. The changes that appear indicate the onset of an inflammatory process or the presence of an infectious disease that affects the organs responsible for excreting urine.

The urine of a newborn baby has no odor, but as it grows older, a certain aroma appears, indicating the quality of the functioning of the organs of the urinary system. Until the baby turns 12 months old, the urine will be:

light;
transparent;
without impurities and odor.

The slightest deviation from the norm may indicate the presence of a pathological process occurring in the child’s body.

A barely perceptible odor appears in the urine after additional crumbs are introduced into the diet (in addition to breast milk or milk mixtures) food products. So, due to the consumption of beets or beet juice, urine not only changes color, but also acquires a sweetish smell.

But in cases where the usual aroma turns into a stench, it is necessary to urgently contact a pediatrician who can determine the presence of the disease and prescribe high-quality, adequate treatment. Sometimes it is the change in the smell of urine that becomes the first a clear sign development of the disease.

A timely visit to a medical institution for qualified help from an experienced doctor will allow you to avoid not only significant material costs for the purchase of medicinal compounds, but also to abandon the use of potent drugs.

Before sounding the alarm, you need to take a close look at the quality of urine and try to detect the slightest changes in its smell. Normally, after a year of life, a child’s urine has a sweetish odor. It is subtle, unobtrusive, soft. Any sharp shade or significant change in aroma indicates the beginning of the development of a pathological process. If the baby is not able to independently talk about what worries him, then only parents who closely monitor the condition and functionality of all systems of the child’s body are able to notice the deterioration in time general condition the health of your child.

There are several reasons for changes in the quality and smell of urine in a child. Among them:

Violation of a nursing mother special diet.
Development of a congenital disease.
The onset of an acquired disease.

Depending on the reason for which the quality of urine has changed, its inherent aroma also changes.

The smell of urine in a child changes during illness and may resemble the aroma of:

fish;
mold (mothers tell the doctor that after the baby has peed, the diapers or onesies smell like mice);
ammonia;
acetone;
hydrogen sulfide;
pus.

Often, mothers who are unable to refuse to drink beer or other alcohol-containing drinks turn to pediatricians. Despite existing prohibitions, breastfeeding mothers sometimes allow themselves to drink a small amount of beer or wine, and some of them do not refuse daily consumption alcoholic drinks. If such a mother continues to breastfeed, the baby’s urine acquires a characteristic pungent odor, reminiscent of the aroma of brewer’s yeast or beer.

Quitting the consumption of prohibited foods and switching to a healthy diet can help get rid of the strong smell of urine only if the reason for its change is not related to a violation of the functionality of individual organs or entire systems of the child’s body.

Why does baby urine smell bad?

A child under the age of one year is not able to independently talk about what worries him, to understand what is happening to the baby, various changes in the functioning of his body will help. There are basic and additional reasons changes in the quality and smell of children's urine. The main ones include:

Changes in diet, addition various products and drinks, after processing of which the color and smell of feces and urine change. In children less than a year old it can be various juices and dairy products, porridge and vegetable soups or purees. The older ones have ketchup and seasonings, sauces and marinades, salty and spicy foods. If the unpleasant smell of urine goes away after giving up the listed products (their consumption), then there is no reason for concern, otherwise you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a detailed examination.
Dehydration resulting from diarrhea or vomiting in an infant. An increase in urine concentration is accompanied by the appearance of a sharp, unpleasant odor.
Low levels of vitamin D in the body. Insufficient amount of time the baby spends on fresh air under the rays of the sun, provokes the development of vitamin deficiency, one of the first manifestations of which will be the appearance of an unpleasant, pungent odor of urine.

Among the many reasons for deterioration in the quality and aroma of urine great importance has the general health of the baby. Doctors name additional reasons, including:

Long-term use of antibacterial drugs, after which the unpleasant smell of urine disappears.
Acute or chronic rhinitis. Deterioration in the quality of oxygen supply to organs and tissues leads to the development of dehydration, which causes the appearance of a strong odor in urine.
Inflammatory diseases of the urinary system. These diseases include inflammation of the bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis).
Pyelonephritis and other inflammatory or infectious diseases affecting the kidneys. Pathogenic bacteria appear in the urine, and the urine becomes foul-smelling.
Influenza, acute respiratory viral infection, acute respiratory viral diseases lead to disruption of the functionality of many organs and systems of the child’s body, including the urinary system. Urine smells not only unpleasant, but sharp.

Any changes in the smell of urine (even minor ones) should be a reason to contact an experienced pediatrician, who will refer the child for a detailed examination and, based on the results obtained, draw the right conclusions and prescribe (if necessary) adequate treatment.

Infectious diseases of the urinary system in children can cause the development of complex and dangerous pathologies. Untimely contact with specialists and lack of adequate treatment lead to serious impairments in the functionality of the urinary system. Therefore, it is so important to closely monitor the baby’s health and pay attention to the smell of urine.

The diet for both the youngest and older children should include a variety of foods. Some of them have a significant impact on the color, composition and smell of a child’s urine. Among these products:

cabbage and asparagus;
garlic and onion;
aromatic seasonings and various sauces;
seafood and smoked meats;
pickles and marinades.

Even in infants, the smell of urine changes and becomes sharp and unpleasant if a breastfeeding mother has introduced one of the above products into her diet or the baby has been replaced with baby formula. The child’s body reacts sensitively to any changes in diet and the first indicator is a change in the quality, color and aroma of feces and urine.

The cause of dehydration, which worsens the smell of a small patient’s urine, is not only intoxication. Insufficient fluid intake by the baby during the day also leads to the development of dehydration and increased urine concentration.

Another reason is various colds and inflammatory diseases that accompany a significant increase in the baby’s body temperature.

In this state, most of the fluid is removed from the baby’s body not through the kidneys, but through pores on the surface of the dermis. The urine becomes concentrated and foul-smelling.

The stench of urine is considered a sign of the development of such dangerous and complex ailments as:

You can get more detailed information, ask any questions and get comprehensive answers by visiting the forum where mothers of children who have experienced such changes in health communicate.

What do the doctor's say

Highly qualified doctors strongly recommend that parents closely monitor the functioning of all organs and systems of their children, especially those who are not yet a year old.

At this age, there is no other way to notice the onset of a dangerous disease, because the baby cannot talk about what he feels, what hurts and what worries him. An indicator of the baby’s health status becomes:

respiratory function (running nose, difficulty breathing);
excretory system (intestines and urinary organs).

By noticing changes in the quality, composition and smell of a small patient’s urine in time, you can prevent the development of complex and dangerous illnesses.

Experienced practicing pediatricians recommend immediately informing your local doctor about all changes noticed, even if at first glance they do not seem significant to parents. It is possible to establish the exact cause of the deterioration of urine odor in a child only after testing in a specialized setting. medical institution detailed laboratory and instrumental examination.

During clinical studies, doctors confirm or cancel the suspicion of the presence of special (specific) signs in the biological fluid pathological changes. Instrumental diagnostics allows the doctor to examine the problem in more detail. For this purpose an ultrasound is performed ( ultrasonography) kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra.

The result of the research becomes the basis for making an accurate diagnosis and, in one case, prescribing effective adequate treatment, and in the other, changing the child’s diet and lifestyle.

It is strictly forbidden to try to cope with the problem yourself using medications or methods alternative medicine. Improper use of specific drugs or infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants and herbs can only aggravate the situation and cause the development of severe complications.

Baby's urine, especially younger age, usually has almost no odor. But from time to time we observe changes that are not encouraging: these secretions acquire an unpleasant, often pungent, odor. Every parent needs to know what it signals and what needs to be done in order not to miss the symptoms of a serious illness.

What should you be wary of?

One-time changes in the color and smell of urine, as a rule, do not frighten anyone. This is more often a manifestation of some natural changes in the diet, or minor disruptions in the functioning of the genitourinary organs. But if a child has an unpleasant odor of urine for several days, and is also accompanied by other signs of trouble, this is a reason to consult a doctor and do the necessary research.

Babies grow, develop and their functionality internal organs, with age, the discharge becomes more and more “adult”, which leads to a change in its smell. But if this is a persistent putrefactive “amber” or the presence of sulfur, sweat, mold, ammonia, and other not very pleasant substances begins to be felt in the fumes, it is better not to be careless and find out the reasons for the alarming changes.

Causes

Babies under one year old in our latitudes often lack of vitamin D. And then, in addition to the appearance of new shades of the smell of the discharge, they experience loss of appetite, slower growth, the child often sweats, this is especially noticeable in the limbs, and bald patches form on the head.

Respiratory diseases, accompanied by a rise in temperature, especially when dehydration of the body is added to them, also give a reaction to the strong smell of urine in the child, and here the first aid is drinking plenty of fluids. Sometimes this alone stops the problem, although it does not eliminate the need to treat the underlying disease. But here's a paradox: going overboard medicines(primarily we are talking about antibiotics) can again provoke a change in the smell of urine not in better side.

Drastic changes in diet lead to the same consequences, even when it comes to infants: their stomach and intestines react this way to the “liberties” in the mother’s diet. Overeating, like starvation, is equally harmful for our children; these extremes lead to disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, manifested, in particular, in the unpleasant smell of urine in children of different ages.

Even clothes that are not very clean or diapers that are not of very high quality in terms of hygiene can give a similar reaction: in this way, droplets of urine react to the presence of bacteria on underwear or on diapers, entering into a chemical reaction with them.

Diseases of internal organs and metabolic failures

The causes of odor are not always as local and “harmless” as in the examples described above. Sometimes the situation is much more serious, and these symptoms are manifestations dangerous diseases genitourinary or immune system or signs of other ailments. To identify the specific source of problems and establish the correct diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a series of examinations: for the content of sugar and acetone, other impurities, and for bacterial culture.

If your child has a strong urine odor that smells like ammonia, there is a risk of illness cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis and the presence of other disorders of the genitourinary system, in which waste products of pathogenic bacteria and these microorganisms themselves enter the urine. Long-term pain also causes concern for the child: both in the lower abdomen and in the lumbar region, urination becomes painful, and sometimes a burning sensation appears during this process.

The inflammatory process is not always bladder(cystitis) is of infectious origin. Sometimes it occurs as a result of irritation of the mucous membrane with drugs in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Then a “pharmacy” or vague “chemical” tint appears in the smell of urine.

The smell of acetone is a reason to suspect the presence diabetes mellitus, especially if it appears in combination with other deviations from the norm: lack of appetite, weight loss, severe constant thirst, dry skin.

Dehydration, infectious diseases and diseases associated with metabolic disorders are also accompanied by changes in the color, turbidity of urine and its odor. For example, already in the first week of a baby’s life, maple syrup disease (leucinosis) may appear - a hereditary disease, the presence of which is indicated by the smell of burnt sugar or maple syrup, in which the baby’s urine is “colored”. A rare disease called phenylketonuria, which gives urine a “mouse” smell, is genetic. And trimethylamine accumulates in tissues with such dysfunction as trimethylaminuria, which adds an unpleasant smell of stale fish to the child’s urine. Fortunately, these diagnoses are rare.

Other reasons

Not only diabetes mellitus gives an acetone reaction in urine, it may also indicate the presence acetonemia- increased acetone content in the body with the likelihood of deep damage to the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs.

In practice, small and short-term deviations in tests are more often observed, the causes of which are not pathological: a change in food priorities, stress, severe fatigue, allergic manifestations. But to rule out diabetes mellitus or infectious diseases, a doctor’s consultation and appropriate examination are necessary.

A strong smell of urine in a child can be either a temporary phenomenon caused by the influence of random factors, or a sign of the development of pathology in the baby’s body. Parents should be able to evaluate the color, texture and smell of the baby’s waste products in order to make appropriate adjustments to care and diet, and understand in which cases it is necessary to see a doctor.

Normally, the smell of urine in a child has its own specificity, but problems should be suspected if the liquid smells sharp or too strong. At the same time, it can give off acetone, ammonia, rotten fish, vinegar. Special attention it is necessary to pay attention to this symptom if it is accompanied by other negative signs.

Changes that may occur in your baby's urine odor

Experienced specialists can make a preliminary diagnosis only by assessing the smell and color of the baby’s urine. Particular attention should be paid to the following situations:

The liquid smells like ammonia. This indicates obvious disruptions in the functioning of the excretory system, which can be caused by diabetes mellitus or acetonemia (ketone bodies in the baby’s blood). The phenomenon rarely occurs alone. It is often accompanied by weight loss, severe thirst, changes in the frequency of urination, dry skin and mucous membranes. In some cases, an ammonia smell and cloudy urine color indicate the development of a urinary tract infection.

Tip: If you have diabetes, your baby's urine may smell not only of ammonia, but also of apple cider vinegar and ammonia. This phenomenon must be monitored every day if the child’s medical history indicates a hereditary predisposition to the pathological condition.

The liquid smells like acetone. This does not always indicate the development of pathologies; often the phenomenon can be a consequence of excessive emotional or physical stress, or lack of nutrition. In this case, it is recommended to monitor the dynamics of the condition and find out its causes and provoking factors. If the baby is tired, you need to give him something sweet and see if his urine smells like acetone after that.
The liquid smells like rotten fish. This condition can only be caused by a specific genetic disease. An unpleasant odor comes from any fluids released by the body, even sweat and exhaled air vapors. Parents usually know in advance about the predisposition to the phenomenon.

There are other genetic pathologies that act as causes unusual smell urine. It can have notes of burnt sugar, cabbage, mold and even mice. For some they are pronounced, for others they are faint.

The smell and color of urine alone cannot give an accurate answer about the condition of the baby. Before finding out why malfunctions occurred in the child’s body and carrying out appropriate treatment, it is necessary to carry out whole line tests to confirm the diagnosis. If the doctor believes that his experience is sufficient and confirmation can be dispensed with, it is better to consult another specialist.

Physiological and pathological causes of conditions

To understand why the smell of urine in a baby has changed dramatically, it is necessary to evaluate many factors and conduct practical experiments at home. Most often, the natural liquid changes color and smells unpleasant when the following reasons apply:

Changes in water balance readings. This can happen during the hot season, when the baby’s appetite decreases, the composition or consistency of breast milk changes, after vomiting or prolonged diarrhea. The color of urine becomes more saturated and bright.
Difficulty in nasal breathing. The body receives less oxygen and metabolic processes slow down. The liquid is retained in the body and comes out in a very rich form.
Consequences of poor nutrition. If your urine smells bad and pathological causes excluded, it is worth assessing the diet of the child or nursing mother. Fast food, sweets, seasonings, spicy additives, some seafood, garlic, cabbage and asparagus can leave similar traces of their presence in the human body.
Metabolic disorder. Most often the cause is genetic pathologies.
Long-term use of antibiotics and other medications by the baby's mother or the child himself, which have specific specifics.
Poor quality diaper or stale linen. In this case, the problem will be pronounced in the morning and before hygiene procedures are carried out.
Rickets. It also affects the quality of discharge, especially in children under one year old. At the same time, sweating of the palms is noted, bad dream, decreased appetite.
Hormonal imbalances or physiological changes. Not only the smell, but also the color of the urine suffers. This is considered normal only during the period of hormonal surge in adolescence, all other issues require the intervention of specialists.
Inflammatory and infectious processes in the kidneys and urinary tract.
Liver diseases. The liquid becomes very dark color and a specific repulsive odor.

Treatment of the disease or its correction in child care depends on why the phenomenon arose. For systemic problems, changes in urine odor are only symptomatic and do not require specific intervention. The problem will disappear as the baby’s general condition improves.

What to do if your baby’s urine has a strong odor?

In case of one-time failures, you should not give too much attention to the phenomenon. a lot of attention and take some action. Only systematic manifestation of a symptom or its persistence for several days requires consultation with a specialist. In this case, it is mandatory to give not only urine, but also blood for analysis. Today, basic research can be carried out at home using special test strips.

If the reaction to acetone is positive, you can restore the child’s blood glucose level by giving him an ampoule to drink or a special tablet to chew (this may be ascorbic acid). A decoction of raisins, warm tea without sugar with honey helps a lot. The listed methods are used only after the doctor’s approval, if it is clearly understood that the condition is caused by physical fatigue or emotional stress.

All other activities involving the use folk remedies, it is better to leave it for lovers of alternative medicine. Infectious, endocrinological and genetic diseases can only be cured with the help of appropriate medications and specialized manipulations.

The smell of a child's urine can tell parents that some changes are occurring in the baby's body. When a baby is born, his stool is almost colorless and has no distinct odor. When a child grows up and begins to eat adult food, his secretions become more and more similar to adults in color and smell.

In its normal state, urine has a specific, subtle odor. But when a child has a strong smell of urine, its color changes, foreign impurities are felt in the smell, such manifestations cannot be ignored, you should consult a doctor in order to promptly detect the causes of the changes.

Many children under one year of age often experience a lack of vitamin D. In this case, in addition to the fact that new shades appear in the child’s urine, other symptoms are noted:

disturbances in appetite;
slow growth rate;
frequent and profuse sweating;
receding hairline on hairline heads.

Another reason foreign odor in the urine may become a respiratory disease, which is accompanied by high temperature. Especially if dehydration is still present. Antibacterial drugs can also change the smell of urine for the worse. Sudden interruptions in diet can also trigger this problem in children. This applies even to those babies who are breastfed. If a nursing mother allows herself to eat certain foods, the baby’s stomach and intestines may react to their entry into milk in this way. For example, if a child is frequently given asparagus, the urine may become sharp and very unpleasant aroma. This is a feature of the plant. But it brings great benefits to the child’s body. Therefore, to avoid the unpleasant consequences of its use, you can add a handful of sea salt during cooking.

Important! Poor nutrition, like overeating, can cause disturbances in the functioning of the internal organs of children, which manifest themselves in the unpleasant smell of feces.

Another reason for the smell may be non-compliance with hygiene rules, not very high-quality diapers - droplets of urine react to what is on underwear or diapers, pathogenic microorganisms are present and react with them.

Water imbalance in the body

There are a number of other reasons why a child’s urine may smell sharp. One of the common causes is water imbalance in the body, with a lack of fluid entering it. This phenomenon is often observed in summer period when it's very hot. The child sweats a lot, loses fluid, but its deficiency is not replenished. In this case, the urine acquires a rich color, may darken, and an unpleasant odor appears. When restored water balance, this problem disappears on its own. For this, the child should be given as much water as possible. If this phenomenon is observed in a baby, it needs to be supplemented with food. For similar reasons, a strong aroma appears in stool when the baby is ill:

if the child has vomiting or diarrhea;
if you have a runny nose and difficulty breathing;
during elevated temperature bodies;
when using antibacterial agents.

Important! If the urine of a child under one year old smells bad, and other symptoms appear - disturbances in appetite, excessive sweating - we can talk about a lack of vitamin D and the development of rickets.

Often urine begins to smell unpleasant during puberty, when a child experiences dramatic change in a hormonal background. This phenomenon goes away over time, you just need to teach children to maintain personal hygiene from childhood. If you have any suspicions about the smell, you should consult a doctor and undergo appropriate tests to rule out the development of diseases and disorders in the body.

Acetonemia and diabetes mellitus

If the urine of a child of any age smells like ammonia or acetone, the doctor may suspect acetonemia and diabetes mellitus. The most reliable way to check and rule this out is with a test strip. It can be purchased at a pharmacy and used at home. The strip is dipped into urine and the result is determined by how its color changes.

Acetone in a child’s stool occurs when toxins form in the body. This phenomenon can occur for many reasons. These may even include overwork or emotional stress. Therefore, to avoid the appearance of ketone bodies, you can offer your child to eat sweets (glucose, tea with honey, or regular candy).

If among your baby’s relatives there are people with diabetes, you should urgently take a sugar test. In this case, the child's urine smells like ammonia, ammonia, apple cider vinegar. Other signs also appear: thirst, dry skin and mucous membranes, weight loss, changes in the amount of urination.

Diseases of internal organs and metabolic disorders

Sometimes the reasons for the strong smell of urine can be more serious disorders in the child’s body. Such signs may indicate that various diseases of the genitourinary or immune system are developing in the body. In order to determine the exact cause and make a specific diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo an examination. If it is ammonia, there is a danger that cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis or other disorders in the genitourinary system will develop, during which elements of the vital activity of microorganisms harmful to health penetrate into the urine. In this case, the doctor prescribes examinations - a blood test for sugar and the level of acetone, other impurities, bacteriological culture. If there is a disease of the genitourinary system, the child may complain of pain in the lower abdomen, in the lower back, when urinating (sometimes this process is accompanied by a burning sensation).

Inflammatory processes in the bladder (cystitis) may not always have an infectious etiology. Sometimes this disease can occur as a result of irritation of the mucous membrane medications during treatment various diseases. In this case, the urine acquires a “pharmacy” smell.

Dehydration of the body, diseases of infectious origin and ailments that arise due to disruptions in metabolism are also accompanied by changes in the color, turbidity and smell of urine. For example, after the baby is born, maple syrup disease (leucinosis) may manifest itself. This is a hereditary disease, its main symptom is the smell of burnt sugar in the urine.

Another rare hereditary disease is phenylketonuria, which is accompanied by the appearance of a “mouse” odor in the stool. And if trimethylamine accumulates in the tissues, a dysfunction such as trimethylaminuria occurs. It manifests itself as an unpleasant smell of rotten fish in the urine. This smell can be felt even from a distance. The causes of the disease are considered to be disturbances in the activity of liver enzymes and the accumulation of trimethylamine. This phenomenon is treated with a diet that involves excluding eggs, meat, fish, and legumes from the diet. Such nutrition helps to temporarily get rid of the problem, but the disease is currently not curable with medication.

There are also hidden infections that give stool a persistent “amber.” Among them are chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. They can be transmitted to the child through birth process from mother. In this case, both the smell and color of the urine changes. Treatment is prescribed only after determining the cause of the pathology.

During dysbacteriosis, with the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis, the urine becomes sour smell. The rich aroma in these situations arises due to increased concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Normal urine color

Normal urine color ranges from yellow to bright yellow. This takes into account what the child eats. For example, if he takes vitamin complexes, urine may be colored dark yellow color, when you eat beets, they will turn bright scarlet.

Thus, changes in the color of urine are directly related to the consumption of certain foods or medications. In this case, you should not self-medicate, but consult a doctor to find out the cause. But you need to remember that if the color of the stool changes, this does not affect the smell.

A sign is considered bad if blood fragments are present in the urine. The presence of such elements may indicate that there is a serious disorder in the functioning of the kidneys. In this case, you need to urgently contact a doctor and undergo all the necessary tests.

In any case, if the smell of your baby’s stool changes, you should consult a specialist, as you may need to undergo a series of examinations to rule out the presence of serious diseases in the child’s body.