Uremic fetor is a urine-like odor on the breath of persons with uremia

Uremia

Uremia or uraemia is a term used to loosely describe the illness accompanying kidney failure , in particular the nitrogenous waste products associated with the failure of this organ....

. The odor occurs from the smell of ammonia

Ammonia

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...

, which is created in the saliva as a breakdown product of urea

Urea

Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO2. The molecule has two —NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl functional group....

. Uremic fetor is usually associated with an unpleasant metallic taste (dysgeusia

Dysgeusia

Dysgeusia is the distortion of the sense of taste. Dysgeusia is also often associated with ageusia, which is the complete lack of taste, and hypogeusia, which is the decrease in taste sensitivity. An alteration in taste or smell may be a secondary process in various disease states, or it may be...

), and can be a symptom of chronic kidney disease. People with uremia can also develop anorexia

Anorexia (symptom)

Anorexia is the decreased sensation of appetite...

, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal bleeding. These symptoms can follow gastritis

Gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and has many possible causes. The main acute causes are excessive alcohol consumption or prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic...

, peptic ulcer disease, or mucosal ulcerations at any level of the gastrointestinal tract in persons with uremia.