Urine with fishy smell: Pee with smelly fishy smell

1. The diet or fluid intake of a patient influences the color, texture, quantity, but also the smell of the urine. Normally the urine does not smell strongly. When a pungent fishy odor occurs, this is almost always a harmless and temporary problem, but sometimes it indicates a medical condition such as an infection or diabetes. Especially when some other symptoms are present such as lower back pain, urinary problems and fever, it is important to seek medical advice. Visiting a doctor is also necessary if symptoms persist or worsen.

Creation of fishy odor in urine

1. Often the chemical trimethylamine oxide is responsible for the urine smell of fish. When a fish dies and the tissue begins to decompose under the influence of bacteria, this substance is released and converted into trimethylamine (TMA), which causes the typical fish smell. A fishy odor in the urine results from the presence of bacteria, TMA or an interaction between the two. In most healthy people, the body breaks down TMA, so that the urine no longer smells like fish (even if they have just eaten fish because there are many bacteria in the body).

Bacterial vaginosis and fishy odor

1. The bacterial infection bacterial vaginosis is a very common condition in sexually active women. This condition causes a fishy, ​​foul-smelling vaginal discharge. The urine is not affected, but the patient can smell the fishy smell when sitting on the toilet. Other known symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are a burning sensation in and around the vagina, pain during intercourse, and a gray or foamy vaginal discharge. The smell of fish and other symptoms get worse immediately after intercourse.

Cystitis

1. A bladder infection (cystitis) is a condition that often results from a bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection. The bacteria from the infection then cause a strong fishy smell in the urine. Patients with an inflammation of the bladder suffer from the following symptoms:

Diabetes mellitus

1. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and a lack or underutilisation of insulin. Diabetes mellitus causes glucose to be released into the urine, resulting in a sweet urine odor or a fishy pee odor. Correct treatment of diabetes mellitus is necessary to overcome this problem.

Phenylketonuria

1. The rare hereditary disease phenylketonuria increases phenylalanine in the blood, causing this substance to build up in the body and the urine also contains a lot of this substance. This is accompanied by the smell of fish. The genetic condition manifests itself in the first months of life. Common symptoms include a skin rash, a smaller head than normal (microcephaly), hyperactivity, jerking movements of the arms and legs, seizures, tremors (tremors) and slowed mental and social skills. The patient must be on a strict diet with foods low in phenylalanine. The patient should therefore not eat beans, eggs, cheese, chicken, milk and fish. Some artificial sweeteners are also out of the question.

Liver failure and urine odor of fish

1. The liver, like the kidneys, helps to expel toxins from the body. A malfunctioning liver leads to an increased level of bilirubin in the blood. The bilirubin also passes into the urine, which is accompanied by the urine smell of fish. Some patients are more prone to liver failure than others, namely patients with:

Medication

1. The intake of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin changes the urine smell in a number of patients, causing them to smell like fish. This occurs with both short-term and long-term use of antibiotics.

Kidney problems and urine that smells like fish

1. The kidneys are responsible for filtering urine and removing toxins from the body. Foul-smelling urine may indicate poor kidney function, often resulting from an infection or kidney stones. Common symptoms of kidney infection (nephritis) are blood in the urine (hematuria), a urinary tract infection that gets worse, high fever, difficulty passing urine or painful urination (dysuria), and lower back pain (low back pain). Kidney infections require hospitalization with antibiotics.

Prostatitis and fish-smelling pee

1. Prostatitis is a condition that causes swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland. Often the prostatitis is the result of an infection. Patients with prostatitis have urinary problems, including a fishy smell of the urine. The symptoms of prostatitis are similar to those of a urinary tract infection. In addition, patients may experience pain in the anus, perineum, or scrotum (scrotum), lower back pain, body aches and pains, and weak urine flow. Treatment depends on the cause of the inflammation. Warm sitz baths relieve the pain. A doctor sometimes prescribes medication, such as antibiotics and pain killers. Occasionally surgery is required.

Dehydration

1. If a patient is dehydrated, the urine smells stronger, under which patients sometimes notice a fishy smell. It is important to drink enough water to avoid dehydration symptoms.

Urinary tract infections and pee with fishy odor

1. When too many harmful bacteria are present in the urinary tract, a urinary tract infection develops. In some patients, a urinary tract infection does not cause symptoms. Other patients have urinary abnormalities such as blood in the urine (haematuria), dark urine, foul-smelling urine and cloudy urine. Urinary problems also occur such as frequent urination (even immediately after using the toilet), frequent urination (urinary urgency) and pain when urinating. Most urinary tract infections are treated by the doctor with antibiotics. Left untreated, a urinary tract infection may spread to the kidneys. Therefore, patients with suspected urinary tract infection should see a physician to receive appropriate treatment.

Vaginitis and fishy smell from the lake

1. An inflammation of the lining of the vagina is known in medical terms as "vaginitis". A foul-smelling vaginal discharge (which makes the urine appear to smell like fishy odors, vaginal itching and pain in the vaginal area are some of the hallmarks of this condition. Vaginitis is often caused by an infection with bacteria, fungi or parasites. then the pathogens start to grow, leading to symptoms. Other causes are also known, such as decreased estrogen levels after menopause or a skin condition. Treatment depends on the cause of the infection. Bacterial infections the doctor treats with antibiotics and fungal infections are treat with antifungals.

Fishy air syndrome

1. Fish-smell syndrome (trimethylaminuria) is a rare condition in which a patient smells of fish. The smell is created by the secretion of saliva, sweat or urine. The patient is unable to degrade trimethylamine. Usually this genetic disorder is hereditary. Apart from the bad urine smell, no other symptoms are manifested. Dietary changes, antibiotics and nutritional supplements are helpful for patients with this disease.

Vitamins and supplements and fish urine smell

1. Some vitamins and supplements cause a fishy pee odor. Supplements of calcium (calcium supplements), vitamin B6 and vitamin D (vitamin D supplements) are especially responsible for the changed urine smell. If the patient stops taking the supplements and the foul-smelling urine persists, it is advisable to contact a doctor.

Food and pond with fish smell

1. Certain foods make the urine smell, such as asparagus, fish, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and foods with caffeine. Several hours after consuming these foods, the urine will disappear with fishy smell. If the urine smell of fish is very disturbing, the patient should drink enough water to dilute the odor and prevent the patient from drying out.

Pregnancy and fish-smelling urine

1. Pregnant women often have more concentrated urine, which creates a stronger urine odor that is sometimes reminiscent of fish. If this symptom does not disappear after a few days, medical advice is required. Dehydration during pregnancy darkens the urine or makes it smell stronger. Pregnant women should definitely drink enough.