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Infection and Urine Smell

A urinary tract infection can be uncomfortable, causing a person to be in pain when she urinates and to feel awful generally. The infection can also change the smell of her urine.

  1. Urinary Tract Infection

    • A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria enters the urinary tract and grows more quickly than it can be flushed away, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include frequent urination, pain while urinating and urine with a strong or foul smell, according to "Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine."

    Causes

    • A person with an obstruction of the urinary tract or who uses a catheter is more likely to develop a urinary tract infection. The concentration of bacteria in the urine, which can break down urea, leads to the strong smell of the urine.

    Treatment

    • Urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics. When the infection is cleared, a patient's urine will smell normal once again.

    Considerations

    • Strong smelling urine is not always an indication of infection; foods like asparagus and certain vitamins can alter the way a person's urine smells.

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