What About Strong-Smelling Urine?
Urine normally has a mild odor, but concentrated urine can have a stronger smell because it contains less water relative to waste products.
Certain foods, vitamins, and medications can also alter urine odor. Occasionally, a change in smell can occur with a urinary infection or other medical condition.
Smell alone cannot reliably determine whether a person has an infection.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Urine color is only one piece of information. You should consider seeking medical advice if you experience:
Blood or unexplained red urine
Persistent dark brown or cola-colored urine
Persistent orange urine
Cloudy urine accompanied by urinary symptoms
Pain or burning when urinating
Significant abdominal, side, or back pain
Fever or feeling unwell
A persistent unexplained change in urine color
Blood in the urine should be evaluated even when there is no pain.
Can Urine Color Diagnose a Health Problem?
No. Urine color alone cannot diagnose a disease.
A healthcare professional may ask about your symptoms, medications, supplements, diet, and fluid intake. Depending on the situation, testing such as a urinalysis or blood tests may be used to investigate the cause of an unusual change.
