When the urine has a strong and unpleasant smell or a very dark color, it can be a sign of dehydration, urinary tract infection, diabetes, or even problems with the functioning of the kidneys.
To avoid dehydration, it is important to guarantee the consumption of fluids throughout the day, especially on the hottest days or those with greater physical demands. However, if the urine still remains very dark or slightly red, it may indicate the presence of blood, which is a very suggestive symptom of urinary tract infection. See what else can make your urine bloody and what to do.
In any case, if the change in urine persists for a long time, it is important to consult a general practitioner or urologist to identify the correct cause and start the most appropriate treatment.
1. Urinary infection
Very concentrated urine, with a strong and unpleasant smell is one of the most classic symptoms of urinary tract infection, which can be accompanied by pain or burning when urinating and frequent urge to urinate. Know other symptoms of urinary tract infection.
The diagnosis of urinary tract infection can be made by a general practitioner, a gynecologist or urologist, by analyzing the urine using a test strip.
What to do: treatment is usually done with antibiotics such as Amoxicillin, Ampicillin or Cephalosporin, and it is also recommended to drink plenty of water or fruit juices, during the entire recovery time.
2. Renal failure
A small amount of urine with a strong smell can be a sign of kidney malfunction, which is usually accompanied by tremors in the hands, tiredness, drowsiness and swelling in the body, especially especially in the eyes and legs and feet due to fluid retention. Check out 11 signs that may indicate you have a kidney problem.
Usually, the diagnosis must be made by a nephrologist, through urine tests and other specific tests.
What to do: treatment can be done by taking medications to lower blood pressure and swelling of the body, such as Lisinopril or Furosemide, for example. In addition, the treatment must be complemented with a diet low in protein, salt and potassium, to avoid overloading the kidneys, and it is also recommended to drink plenty of water.
3. Uncontrolled diabetes
This change in the characteristics of urine can also be a symptom of diabetes, and other symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urge to urinate, tiredness, wounds that heal slowly or tingling in the feet and hands are common.
The diagnosis of diabetes can be made through a blood test that assesses the blood sugar level.
What to do: The treatment of diabetes involves taking medicines that depend on the type of diabetes diagnosed, and it is also necessary to make dietary adjustments that help in controlling the disease.
4. Phenylketonuria
Strong-smelling urine and mold can be a symptom of phenylketonuria, a rare and congenital disease that has no cure, caused by the accumulation of phenylketonuria in the body. Other symptoms caused by this disease include difficulty in development, smell of mold on the skin, eczema on the skin or mental disability.
The diagnosis of this disease is made in the child's first years of life, by performing the heel prick test.
What to do: The treatment involves a strict diet low in phenylalanine, a natural amino acid that can be found in meat, eggs, oilseeds, processed foods, milk and dairy products.
