Ok, you guys are all close friends, so I can tell you this. My nine-year-old daughter has the worst smelling urine on the planet. I don’t know why. She eats the same diet as I do, veggies, fruits, meats, generally very healthy. She drinks mostly water–doesn’t care for milk or most juices. She bathes almost daily, so it’s not her personal hygiene I’m worried about.
I don’t know how to describe it, it’s just rotten. It’s been going on for awhile, but she has no other symptoms so I feel kinda silly taking her to the doc for this. But should I? Maybe it could be some kind of syndrome I haven’t heard of.
“Stanky Urine Syndrome” 
Sorry, it’s not funny, but it kind of is because whoooooo hoo it’s gross.
My first thought is possibly and infection. But I have no medical background other than as a patient, so take it for what it’s worth.
[sub]Disclaimer! I am not a doctor, have never played one on TV, and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.[/sub]
Well, checking medical websites, and Googling “malodorous urine” all basically say the same thing: Possibly a urinary tract infection, could be a dietary issue, could be medication related, but one will never know until one gets checked by a doctor. You probably suspected the answer would be as much, so I’d say it’s best to let the experts see for themselves, and have a doctor look at her.
Is SHE aware of it? Is it possible she’s been eating something you’re not aware of: at a friend’s, at school, while playing outside. IANAD but could she be at the start of puberty. I understand the age has dropped quite a bit over the last 2 or 3 generations. If hormones have come into play, this could account for a change in body chemistry, and the inevitable difference in waste products. Do some Googling, and if you’re still not satisfied, a call to her pediatrician could set your mind at ease.
Yeah, after posting this I thought, “duh” I just need to take her to the doc. It’s just that she’s otherwise healthy, no other symptoms, no irriation or anything. It’s like she’s been eating tons of broccoli or something. Poor thing.
It’s been going on for a while, but I will try to get her in this week. Maybe they’ll just let me bring in a sample so she doesn’t have to miss school or anything. I will call and find out on Mon.
Could she be eating asparagus without your knowledge?
This sounds like a not-so-classic case of a urinary tract infection. I was getting them all the time a few years ago and had no idea what they were until I asked my doctor about it. Her explanation was that these particular UTI’s are caused by a different strain of bacteria than your run-of-the-mill UTI with your standard burning, painful bladder, frequent need to urinate, etc. My only symptom was the really stinky pee - and I mean stinky! If I let it go for a month or more - and I often did out of sheer embarassment - it would either go away on its own as it usually did or mutate into the rotmUTI that would land me in the doc’s office.
So… long story short - get thine daughter to the doctor’s office pronto!
I hope all goes well and the Mistery of the Stinky Pee is solved.
DoperChic
You should see a doctor to rule out an infection, as mentioned. They can cause very few symptoms, don’t always cause burning, and are more serious in kids than adults. Some bad odours in urine are due to genetic factors – not everyone who eats asparagus gets stinky pee, only those who can’t break down the stank molecule.