Houston, TX
A 25-year-old male asked:
what would cause ammonia smell on breath?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Paul Grin answered
Pain Management 36 years experience
Poor oral hygiene: is #1 cause for a bad breath. Breath that smells like ammonia or urine or has a fish smell can be a sign of chronic renal failure or helicobacter pylori gastritis. I don't think it is the case. See your PCP for evaluation and labs or your dentist for a professional cleaning and prophylaxis.
3849 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 48-year-old member asked:
What are some dangers of inhaling ammonia fumes?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

Dr. Barbara A Majeroni answered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Lung irritation: Ammonia fumes are very irritating to lung tissue and could lead to pneumonitis. Avoid breathing them.
6230 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 33-year-old member asked:
What are the dangers associated with an exposure to ammonia?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. David Miller answered
Family Medicine 10 years experience
How much, how long: With any chemical exposure, the affects depend on the route of exposure (contact, ingestion, breathing, etc), the concentration of the substance and the time of the exposure. In the case of ammonia, it can damage the skin, eyes, respiratory tract, etc in ways ranging from severe thermal and chemical burns to frost bite.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/820298-overview.
6196 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
What is dangerous about inhaling ammonia fumes?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

Dr. Joseph Hermann answered
Family Medicine 43 years experience
Not much: Ammonia fumes are so obnoxious that not many people will tolerate prolonged exposure. Like chlorine bleach, ammonia can be irritating to the linings of the respiratory tract. Use your head and follow your senses: if it hurts, don't do it (or just avoid over-exposure).
6260 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Jon Ahrendsen commented
Family Medicine 39 years experience
agricultural anhydrous ammonia is much more dangerous than the household product. Anyhydrous ammonia, can cause horrific chemical burns, and fatal respiratory arrest. It all depends on the level of exsposure.
Nov 14, 2011
CA
A 35-year-old member asked:
What is a normal range for ammonia and nitrate levels?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Shabbir Hossain answered
Internal Medicine 16 years experience
11-35: Ammonia levels can be checked in serum (blood )and can be elevated in patients with chronic liver disease with cirrhosis. As with most lab tests, the cut offs for what is normal and what is elevated can vary slightly. At my institution, normal range is 11 to 35 mcmol per liter.
6108 viewsReviewed Dec 24, 2018
A 36-year-old member asked:
What level of ammonia is fatal?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Shaym Puppala answered
Internal Medicine 25 years experience
No one best answer: Ammonia is produced by metabolism of protein & by absorption (is produced by intestinal bacteria).Ability to process ammonia is poor in advanced liver failure, and ammonia level rises.Ammonia contributes to hepatic encephalopathy, which refers to the brain being affected, and can lead to coma.Levels vary greatly for a number of reasons, and do not necessarily correlate with symptoms.
6172 viewsReviewed Jun 23, 2020
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