Description

Urine or other body fluid may take on an abnormal odor in the presence of a variety of diseases, often reflecting an abnormality in metabolism.


Odor Descriptor

Condition(s)

 

asparagus

 

thymol

ammonia

urinary tract infection, bacterial growth in a stored urine

brewery

methionine malabsorption ("oast house syndrome")

burnt sugar

maple syrup urine disease

cabbage

tyrosinemia

cat urine

beta-methylcrotonylglycinuria

fish

tyrosinemia

foul smell

urinary tract infection, bacterial contamination

fruity

ketonuria

hops

methionine malabsorption ("oast house syndrome")

maple syrup

maple syrup urine disease

mousy

phenylketonuria

musty

phenylketonuria

rancid

tyrosinemia

rancid butter

hypermethioninemia

rotten cabbage

hypermethioninemia

rotting fish

trimethylaminuria

sulfurous

cystinuria, homocystinuria

sweaty feet

methylmalonic acidemia, propionic acidemia, isovaleric acidemia, butyric/hexanoic acidemia, glutaric acidemia type II

sweet

ketonuria

 

where:

• "Oast house" is where hops are prepared prior to making beer (Campbell and McIntosh page 1122).

 


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