Urine Smell & Infection

When it comes to young children, a certain smell could mean a certain type of infection.

We're talking about a simple way that might alert parents to urinary tract infections in their young children. Bad smelling urine.

Young ones can't always tell us how they are feeling, so that means that sometimes we miss things that are making them sick until their condition gets really bad. A urine infection is one of those things. And it's important to catch these infections as early as possible so it doesn't spread to their kidneys. But since children can't always tell us about symptoms they may be having, often times the urine infection is missed until it does get worse.

But a new study is finding that something as simple as a change in the smell of their urine could be a big clue. Researchers found that this change in smell in children 3 years old and younger was the strongest clue that they might have a urine infection.

Other things besides an infection can cause a change in the way their urine smells, particularly certain foods. And although just noticing a change in smell doesn't automatically mean they have a urine infection, it gives you and their doctor a good indication that they should at least be tested just to make sure.