Reasons why urine smells strongly of ammonia in women and men

The urine of a healthy person should be light yellow in color and, if fresh, should be practically odorless. The smell appears only after alkaline fermentation, when the urine has been in contact with air for some time. Therefore, if you notice that urine has an unpleasant smell of ammonia, this is an alarm signal of the disease.

However, there are reasons that do not indicate a disease:

• prolonged urination;
• eating spicy dishes, asparagus;
• lack of water in the body;
• taking certain medications.

If a person has excluded all these facts from his list, but the smell of ammonia is present in the urine, then it is urgent to see a doctor.

Causes of Bad Smell

Why can there be a smell of ammonia in the urine? One of the reasons is the defeat of the genitourinary tract by bacteria. This is what indicates pyelonephritis.

• This is one of the common diseases that people face. It affects the kidneys. You can recognize it if you have other symptoms, such as lower back pain and fever. In this case, a person should consult a specialist.
• When bacteria enter the excretory tract, it causes a urinary tract infection. Such bacteria can be gardnerella or chlamydia.
• Urethritis is also one of the diseases that is accompanied by damage to the walls of the urogenital canal by bacteria, which in turn causes inflammation. In addition to an unpleasant odor, blood or pus can be observed in the urine.

There are other diseases unrelated to the presence of bacteria in the human body:

• cystitis, in which the functions of the bladder are impaired due to inflammation. This disease is more common in women than in men. However, it is easier to recognize than other hidden diseases. After all, it is accompanied not only by a change in the smell of urine, but also by severe pain during urination. Urine may also have sediment, and a feeling of constant desire to visit the toilet does not leave the person;
• Diabetes can cause an ammonia-like smell in urine. This condition is dangerous for a sick person, so you need to urgently tell your doctor about it;
• acidosis is a lack of carbohydrates in the human body, which, in turn, begins to absorb fatty acids. This causes hypoglycemia, which is responsible for the appearance of ketone bodies in the urine. They are what cause the ammonia smell.

Causes of the smell of ammonia in the urine in children

If an abnormal smell is found in the urine of children, then you should not self-medicate. The reasons why a child may experience the smell of ammonia in the urine are the same as in adults. Therefore, there is no reason to postpone the problem until later. The only thing that can be different is a lack of vitamin D, the symptoms of this are:

• excess weight;
• sweaty palms;
• poor appetite;
• frequent whims.

If the appearance of changes in the urine caught the baby, then you should pay attention to the food consumed by the mother. When this is the only reason, then a nursing mother should follow a diet.

Changed urine odor in pregnancy

During pregnancy, the smell of urine should be like that of a perfectly healthy person, that is, without any pungent odor. Urine should also be almost clear. If the smell of ammonia is observed, this may indicate alarming points:

• dehydration of the body;
• toxicosis;
• lack of carbohydrates in the body;
• diabetes;
• increase in leukocytes;
• genital infections;

In any case, the expectant mother needs to talk to the doctor about her condition. We must not lose sight of the signals given by the body, because not only the health of the mother, but also the health of the baby is at stake.

Prevention and treatment

In order to prevent an unpleasant odor in the urine, it is necessary to drink at least one and a half liters of water per day. Also monitor your diet, exclude fatty, fried, spicy and smoked foods, as well as alcohol. Natural yoghurts and cranberry juice are very useful.

Having found an unpleasant smell of urine, it is better to consult a specialist, and not to self-medicate. It is necessary to pass tests, make an ultrasound of the pelvic organs. After the conclusion, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment. Perhaps the patient will be prescribed medications that have diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, cleansing effects.

If the smell of ammonia in the urine does not disappear for 3 days, and even more so when there is any pain, discharge or temperature, you should urgently consult a specialist.