All about the causes and treatment of fecal odor from the mouth

Sour stool smell: causes, diagnosis, treatment methods

Decepticreep
In medicine, stool refers to the contents of the lower rectum, that is, feces. Feces are the end product of digestion. Waste biomaterial is removed from the body using the intestines through the anus. The sour smell of feces indicates the presence of fermentation and inflammation in the intestines.

1 Why is stool smelly?
2 Diagnostics
3 Treatment
4 Folk remedies

Why is stool smelly?

If the digestive process is slow and poor, then digestion of food is difficult. In this case, food begins to rot in the intestines, creating optimal conditions for the growth of pathogenic flora. Some microorganisms release hydrogen sulfide into the environment. This is what causes the sour stench.

Important! A rotten, pungent odor indicates a malfunction in the entire gastrointestinal tract. Sour stench occurs as a result of fermentative dyspepsia

This can happen after eating peas, sweet flour dishes, kvass and some fruits. When the flow of bile is disrupted, feces acquire a foul odor. If you consume too much protein, your stool will have a putrid “aroma.”

The sour stench occurs as a result of fermentative dyspepsia. This can happen after eating peas, sweet flour dishes, kvass and some fruits. When the flow of bile is disrupted, feces acquire a foul odor. If you consume too much protein, your stool will have a putrid “aroma.”

What determines the smell of stool? Often unpleasant, foul-smelling stools occur with colitis, constipation and slow digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract. If the digestive organs are attacked by harmful bacteria, the stool smells like rancid oil. Very often, a putrid aroma is accompanied by increased gas formation.

The norm is

Unpleasant, but not pungent odor of feces;
cylindrical stool;
soft consistency of stool;
brown color of feces;
slight stool discharge.

Curdled, foamy or liquid stools indicate problems with the digestive system. Grayish-white feces indicate liver problems and the development of pancreatitis. Any change in the consistency of feces indicates problems in the intestines.

When a lot of dairy products predominate in food, they are poorly digested and give the stool a sour smell. If bacteria in the intestines produce hydrogen sulfide, the stool becomes rotten.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis by the smell of feces allows you to identify the cause of the pathology and diagnosis. The presence of putrid, unpleasant odor of feces is a reason to consult a doctor. Special studies and tests will help to understand the problem. Diarrhea with a sour odor is studied using special reagents and a gas chromatograph.

Advice! The diagnostic system used in laboratories recognizes biomaterial samples well. With its help, you can determine the cause of foul-smelling stool.

If you experience severe diarrhea with an odor, be sure to visit your doctor. Stool disorder is a symptom of many infectious and inflammatory diseases. Loose, foul-smelling stools may be accompanied by abdominal pain, belching, and bloating.

Loose stool in an adult stinks if it is caused by infection and the action of toxins. Diseases of this nature are the most dangerous. Severe intoxication and dehydration of the body occurs. Diagnostics is necessary to provide quick and competent medical care.

If an adult has diarrhea, the following examinations are performed:

Ultrasound examination of the digestive organs;
coprogram of feces;
stool analysis for dysbacteriosis and infections;
sigmoidoscopy;
X-ray of the colon (irrigoscopy).

Modern diagnostic methods help to identify the source of the causative agent of diarrhea and the unpleasant smell of feces, establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment with medications.

Folk remedies

In combination with drug therapy, folk remedies are widely used to eliminate smelly diarrhea. A cup of black or green tea helps strengthen stools and improve bowel function. Take the tea warm, not hot, so as not to irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Potato starch is the number one remedy for foul-smelling diarrhea. It is stirred in one hundred milliliters of boiled water and drunk on an empty stomach. Starch coats the gastric mucosa, eliminates inflammation and bad-smelling stool.

You can also use cloudy and sticky rice water. It resembles starchy jelly and strengthens stool well.

Treatment

The doctor prescribes treatment based on test results and after studying the clinical picture of the problem. In any case, therapy will include preventive measures that will have a restorative effect on the mucous membranes. These include:

Regular hygiene – at least 2 times within 24 hours. If the problem is of significant intensity, the number of procedures can be increased to 4 times a day. During the day, it is advisable to use dental floss, which will eliminate food particles between the teeth, which are the source of the unpleasant odor.
Cleaning the surface of the tongue. It is advisable to perform the procedure twice a day. Use the outside of a toothbrush or a regular teaspoon.

Why does my breath smell in the morning?

After each meal, it is advisable to rinse your mouth with solutions purchased at the pharmacy or prepared yourself. Cleaning is carried out in the direction from the root of the tongue to its tip. Movements are performed with gentle pressure in order to effectively clean the surface of food debris and plaque without injuring the mucous membrane.

Pastes with a special composition contribute to more effective tongue cleansing. The products will neutralize sulfur compounds that cause fecal odor from the mouth. The main components of such pastes are zinc and chlorine dioxide.

Treatment by a specialist

If, after careful oral hygiene, the smell of feces does not disappear, you should consult a dentist. The doctor will be able to select the necessary procedures for high-quality cleaning of the oral cavity in hard-to-reach places. To eliminate the problem, the doctor may suggest:

removing stone and soft plaque from enamel;
drugs for the treatment of gum diseases.

If there are no dental problems, the doctor will refer the patient to specialists of another profile - a gastroenterologist or therapist.

Therapy for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

If the smell of feces from the mouth is associated with gastrointestinal pathologies, then a gastroenterologist will draw up a treatment regimen for the pathology. It includes taking medications, lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments. The list of most commonly recommended medications includes:

Almagel - recommended for use with gastritis and stomach ulcers. It has analgesic and protective effects on the walls of the digestive organ.
Omez – stimulates the process of food digestion. Thanks to this, food does not stagnate in the stomach and does not undergo the process of rotting, which causes an unpleasant odor.
Antimicrobial agents are prescribed in the diagnosis of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. The doctor selects the drug taking into account the results of ultrasound, the symptomatic picture of the pathology and the stage of the disease.
Enzyme preparations - Festal, Creon. They promote the rapid breakdown of food in the stomach, which prevents the occurrence of fecal odor from the mouth. The drugs also speed up intestinal motility.

Self-medication with medications is unacceptable. Even in cases where bad breath reappears, and the patient has a treatment regimen for the problem that appeared earlier. Drugs to repeatedly combat the abnormal condition may be ineffective and aggravate the course of the pathology.

General treatment tactics

Treatment tactics in each case depend on the cause of fecal odor from the mouth:

for inflammatory diseases, non-steroidal drugs and antibiotics are prescribed;
for chronic tonsillitis, the patient is indicated for surgical removal of the tonsils;
in advanced forms of sinusitis, the sinuses punctured
in case of carious lesions of the teeth, the patient undergoes sanitation of the oral cavity and filling of the damaged elements;
if the functioning of the salivary glands is disrupted and the mucous membranes dry out, the patient is prescribed to drink plenty of fluids.

Diarrhea with the smell of rotten eggs, causes

Diarrhea is an unpleasant symptom of many diseases, so if it occurs, you should immediately seek medical help. Each disease has its own characteristics of diarrhea. When diagnosing diarrhea with the smell of rotten eggs, the specialist will definitely take into account the presence of bloody or mucous impurities, the color and consistency of the stool, as well as its smell.

Diarrhea, feces with a strong, unpleasant odor, a characteristic symptom of the following diseases:

1 dysbacteriosis. Violation of healthy intestinal microflora often occurs while taking antibacterial drugs and a distinctive feature of such diarrhea is a foul odor;

2 infection in the body often causes diarrhea. To a greater extent, unpleasant stool odor is characteristic of rotavirus infection and salmonellosis;

3 E. coli can also cause infectious and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which affects the character and smell of stool;

4 enteritis can cause diarrhea with an unpleasant odor - acute or chronic inflammation of the small intestine leads to increased bowel movements with liquid feces with an unpleasant odor;

5 colitis can cause diarrhea with a fetid odor - inflammation of the large intestine, which tends to last for a long time, gives the stool the smell of rotten eggs;

6 food intolerance can cause foul diarrhea;

7 chronic diseases of the digestive tract during the period of exacerbation are also characterized by similar symptoms;

8 an unbalanced diet with a minimum amount of protein and fiber can lead to diarrhea with a putrid odor;

9 such a dangerous infectious disease as cholera often provokes the appearance of a fishy smell in the stool;

10 The presence of the hepatitis A virus in children is a common cause of foul-smelling diarrhea.

Stool odor in adults

Bad stool aroma: bitter, metallic, sweet indicates a possible pathology of the digestive tract. Changes in the balance of intestinal microflora lead to a strange and very strong odor. The stool may even smell like bleach, glue, acid, or rot. Infectious lesions of the gastrointestinal tract also change the aroma of stool. In this case, the terrible smell of feces is combined with symptoms of general intoxication, bloating, flatulence, dyspepsia, and pain. Impurities may appear in the stool: pus, blood, inclusions of undigested food, muscle fibers. Here we can talk about the appearance of iodophilic microflora: staphylococci, enterococci, E. coli, yeast fungi. They change the color of stool when interacting with products containing iodine. In endemic regions, iodization is mandatory. In any case, consultation with a specialist is necessary to clarify the cause. The smell, consistency and color of stool also change after taking certain medications, for example, after drinking smecta, sharp-smelling feces that resemble plasticine are released.

Causes

The sour smell of feces is an alarming symptom. The reason may be hidden not only in digestive disorders. The pathology is influenced by chronic intestinal diseases, the development of life-threatening infections - dysbiosis, impaired transportation of food masses, damage to the pancreas. If the human body cannot adequately ensure the correct process of absorption of vital substances in the intestines, then a chronic illness develops. Poor absorption and very foul-smelling stool may be caused by:

Food allergies;
intestinal infections;
celiac disease;
food intolerance;
Crohn's disease;
inflammation.

With the above disorders, severe diarrhea (and it stinks), nausea, and insufficient absorption of beneficial components from food are observed. Foul stool is a sign of poor absorption and increased gas formation in the intestines. Similar bowel movements with vomiting occur during acute intestinal infections, when the normal bacterial flora of the digestive system is disrupted.

Why does stool have an unpleasant, pungent odor? The consistency and smell of stool is influenced by bacteria and microorganisms present in the intestines. With various violations, bacteria are activated and begin to multiply quickly. The growth of pathogenic microflora increases. As a result, microbes poison the intestines more with their toxins and provoke increased rotting of food. Diarrhea with a sour smell indicates a chronic disorder of the digestive processes and intestinal infection. Nasty and loose stools in an adult can occur due to pancreatic insufficiency.

Normally, a healthy person has bowel movements no more than twice a day. Feces have a soft consistency. Evacuation occurs effortlessly and without pain. The color of the stool is brown, and in infants it is light yellow. The smell of feces is normally unpleasant, but without fermentative or putrefactive tones.

Possible reasons for deviations

If a baby’s feces retain their yellow-green hue, but foam, mucus, and a foul and sour smell begin to appear, there are several reasons for this.

Bristol Stool Shape Scale

Symptoms:

If the baby is not capricious or crying, then this may be a variant of the norm. You should be concerned if this process takes a long time.
When teething, the stool often becomes more liquid, and sometimes it can smell unpleasant. If the temperature rises, then infection is likely present. Since the baby’s immunity drops when teeth appear, he is vulnerable to various types of viruses.

Stool may change during teething

The baby does not have enough hind milk. The toddler sucks only “front” milk, rich in glucose. The mother should give breastfeeding on demand, and not according to a schedule, not supplement with water or, especially, juices, and monitor the correct latching of the nipple during feedings.
Gastrointestinal pathology There are not enough enzymes to break down “milk” sugar. In this case, you should consult a pediatrician. It is also important to change the formula or transfer the baby from breastfeeding to a lactose-free formula.

Additional Information. Abnormalities in the stool of an infant are also possible, which manifest themselves in the form of diarrhea or constipation. With proper treatment and preventive measures, these problems can be solved even in their infancy. So, constipation goes away when changing the mixture or performing a abdominal massage. You should not delay your visit to the doctor and strictly follow the prescribed recommendations.

Causes of putrid odor

When a child develops smelly stool, doctors usually name the cause as dysbacteriosis. This means that protein products rot in the intestines, and the composition of the microflora changes.

An unpleasant odor also indicates:

inflammatory process in the intestines;
slow smooth muscle motility;
putrefactive indigestion;
disruption of food digestion;
rotovirus or other intestinal infection.

Prevention of intestinal infections

Note! If mucus is present in the stool, this also indicates a pathology that manifests itself as a result of an allergic reaction.

Worm infestations

The smell of a child's stool often changes due to the presence of worms. After all, this problem is inherent specifically in children who have not yet reached 14 years of age. At this age, they still do not know how to carefully monitor hygiene.

In addition to the foul odor, the presence of parasites may cause diarrhea or, conversely, constipation, rumbling in the stomach, pale skin, and a decrease in the resistance of the entire body as a whole.

In this case, anthelmintic drugs are used, for example, “Dekaris”, “Nemozol”, “Levamisole” and others. However, you should not prescribe them to your child yourself. First of all, it is necessary to undergo an examination to determine the type of parasites. In addition, all drugs for worms are very toxic, so the dose for the child must be determined by a doctor. The main thing is to get rid of parasites without fail, since there is a risk that in the future the child will develop systemic anemia, since worms feed on blood.

Diagnostic methods

A gastroenterologist deals with the causes and treatment of the diseases described. Other doctors can also carry out diagnostics: a therapist for adults, a pediatrician for children. To find out why your breath smells like rotten eggs, you need to undergo a series of clinical tests:

CT scan;
Fibrogastroscopy;
X-ray of the gastrointestinal tract;
Irrigoscopy;
Blood analysis;
Manometry;
Colonoscopy;
Test for stomach acidity.

Drug treatment

Therapy for children

If a child has diarrhea, it is necessary to use complex treatment, this will quickly and effectively eliminate the problem and symptoms of indigestion.

Initially, agents are prescribed to reduce intoxication, such as Enterosgel or Smecta; the most accessible drug is activated carbon. To restore fluid balance in case of diarrhea in an infant, drinking plenty of fluids is recommended.

Diarrhea washes out a huge amount of minerals from the body of a one-year-old baby or older child; drugs such as Trisol or Regidron are taken to replenish them.

For the most effective treatment of a condition in which stool smells like rotten eggs, it is recommended to limit food intake and adhere to a diet. For children and infants, exclude new complementary foods and foods in the diet, replace water with chamomile decoction.

When colic and gas occur, use the drug Espumisan; Papaverine or No-Shpa will help relieve pain.

If, after diagnostic measures, an infection is detected in the tests, more complex complex treatment is prescribed. This type of therapy is best done in a hospital setting, and medications should be used under medical supervision to prevent side effects.

Treatment for adults

Therapy for adults is similar to treatment for small patients. The main thing is to identify the cause of diarrhea with the smell of a rotten egg, and based on this, the correct drug treatment is selected.

First aid will be sorbents (Enterosgel, Smecta), antidiarrheal antimicrobial drugs (Levomycetin, Stopdiar, Fthalazol)

It is important to take a break of at least two hours between these drugs.

It is recommended to maintain a drinking regime and a gentle diet.

Traditional medicine

To eliminate diarrhea that smells as if it might be rotten, you can use the following effective alternative medicine recipes:

A starchy drink will help normalize stool. For this, 1 tsp. dissolve starch in warm boiled water (250 ml). Take 100 ml drink three times a day.
Rice water will help quickly eliminate diarrhea. Boil rice in water in a ratio of 1:7, drain the water and take 1 tbsp. l. every hour; for infants it is recommended to drink 3-4 drops of rice water every hour. The product has excellent enveloping properties, relieves painful symptoms, and normalizes stool.
Mix fresh blueberries and bird cherry berries in a ratio of 4:6, add boiled water (500 ml), cook for no more than half an hour, use 1 tbsp of decoction. l. 4 times a day.

Prevention and nutrition

If the cause of the strange smell of stool is poor digestion, the patient will have to follow a special diet. It is necessary to remove smoked foods, fatty meats, spices and hot sauces from the diet. Another important condition is complete abstinence from alcohol.

Taking antibiotics will help get rid of the infection. When eating food, medications are prescribed that can relieve intoxication. If the infection has not been detected, then the patient will only need to eat properly and take vitamins.

To prevent problems with digestion and bowel movements, it is important to properly process foods. The meat should be exposed to heat, the vegetables should be washed well. It is necessary to drink enough clean water per day. It is best to exclude soda and freshly squeezed juices from your diet. The functioning of the digestive system is improved by physical activity, so do not forget about daily exercises, which can be done at home.

Foul stool

This problem very often appears due to the consumption of a large number of vegetables, which contain many phytoncides. First of all, it's garlic and onions. This is due to the fact that these products destroy pathogenic microflora, which is present in small quantities in the intestines of every person.

Provoking foods also include legumes, cabbage and foods that contain large amounts of fat. Provocateurs of foul-smelling stool also include so-called artificial foods, that is, those containing a large amount of stabilizers, preservatives and flavorings.

In children, such a smell often indicates that dysbiosis is present. At the same time, a rash may appear all over the body. This can also occur during antimicrobial or antibacterial therapy.

The most dangerous symptom is the smell of feces, similar to the smell of rotten carrion. This symptom is typical for malignant neoplasms in the intestines, so you should immediately consult a doctor. This may not be the reason, but you should definitely undergo an examination.

Changes in stool in adults

The appearance of an unusual aroma - putrefactive, sour, bitter or reeking of something metallic - is an indicator of a serious illness in the body or a disruption of the usual digestive process.

The most common cause of a strong and strange odor is changes in the intestinal microflora. A sour smell can appear when eating large amounts of plant foods. Feces begin to smell rotten when there is a lack or complete absence of digestive enzymes in the intestines. Excrement that smells like glue can be seen in dysentery. The appearance of an abnormal odor may be accompanied by bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, and flatulence. If you have these symptoms, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor to find out the cause.

Causes

The most common reason is food eaten early. Rare but serious causes: chronic intestinal disease, development of infection, disruption of food transportation, damage to the pancreas.

The appearance of foul-smelling stool can be caused by:

food allergies;
intestinal infection;
celiac disease;
food intolerance;
Crohn's disease;
inflammation.

The reasons above cause diarrhea and increased gas production, which smells sour. Vomiting may develop during acute intestinal infections.

Diarrhea with a sour smell indicates chronic indigestion and intestinal infection. Nasty and loose stools in an adult may occur due to insufficient pancreas.

It is normal to go to the toilet from three times a day to once every two days, the stool should look soft, and the process should be effortless and painless. In an adult, the color of the stool is brown, in infants it is light yellow, the smell is unpleasant, but without a fermentative odor and dark or other shades.

What does smell depend on?

The appearance and smell of stool is affected by bacteria and microorganisms that are found in the intestines. With any disturbance in digestion, bacteria multiply faster, the growth of disturbed microflora increases and microbes poison the intestines with toxins, which provokes rapid rotting of food and an unpleasant odor.

The reasons are the same for everyone, but there are several differences between a child and an adult.

Sour smell of feces in a child

A sour smell in children may be due to an upset stomach. In babies and toddlers, this may be due to food allergies due to formula or mixed feeding, or in rare cases due to breastfeeding. In a child under 2 years of age, sour smelling stool may be accompanied by vomiting and fever due to rotavirus infection.

There are several diseases in children that are accompanied by a sour smell of stool:

dysbacteriosis;
fermentation dispersion;
colitis;
problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

It is impossible to diagnose the disease yourself, so consult a doctor.

Sour-smelling stool in an adult

A sour smell can occur when eating large amounts of plant foods. If you don't eat enough fiber, it will worsen your gut flora over time. The sour smell may be accompanied by diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain and bloating. It is worth seeing a doctor for a diagnosis.

Fetid and putrid odor of feces in an adult. Reasons for changes in stool odor in an infant

Reasons for changes

Why does the smell change? This is influenced by microorganisms that live in the intestines. If there is any failure, they begin to develop rapidly, which leads to the growth of pathogenic microflora. As a result, bacteria poison the intestines with their toxins, which increases the process of food rotting.

This may be caused by the following factors:

food allergies;
dyspepsia;
colitis;
liver disease;
enteropathy;
rotavirus or “stomach flu”;
dysbacteriosis;
inflammation.

What changes does the specific aroma of stool indicate?

The fetid and pungent odor of feces in an adult is observed when the pancreas does not function properly, in which bile does not enter the gastrointestinal tract.

A putrid and pungent odor of feces can occur in stomach diseases associated with the consumption of large quantities of foods containing protein.

If it tastes somewhat sour, this may indicate digestive problems. This sometimes happens after consuming carbohydrate foods, as well as drinks made using the fermentation process.

When stool smells weak, this indicates insufficient digestion of food and the possible development of constipation.

Oily feces with a smelly aroma indicate the decomposition of fats, but if the feces smell like rotten eggs (sulfur), this indicates poisoning with hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide.

When stool smells like acetone, we are talking about the possible development of diabetes mellitus, improper nutrition (fasting, eating large amounts of protein foods, fats, lack of carbohydrates), heavy physical activity, and alcohol abuse.

If your waste smells like rotten fish and you have loose stools, you are talking about infection with parasites – worms.

Sour stool in children

If children's feces smell of something sour, then the reason may be related to the development of the disease. We are talking about the following pathologies:

fermentation dispersion;
colitis;
dysbacteriosis;
problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

A sour smell of feces in a child under 2 years of age indicates a possible food allergy. If vomiting and fever are observed, these are symptoms of rotavirus infection.

Changes in stool in adults

The appearance of an unusual aroma - putrefactive, sour, bitter or reeking of something metallic - is an indicator of a serious illness in the body or a disruption of the usual digestive process.

Diagnostics and tests

To prescribe treatment, it is necessary to conduct a chemical analysis of the excrement. The identification of undigested food particles in the stool is of great importance in making a diagnosis. These include residual fat or muscle fibers from meat products.

When a change in the properties of stool is accompanied by other symptoms, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound examination of the intestines, FGDS, MSCT of the abdominal cavity, and sometimes a biopsy of the small intestine.

Prevention and nutrition

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Folk remedies

You can also use cloudy and sticky rice water. It resembles starchy jelly and strengthens stool well.

Even if a person is completely healthy, after a bowel movement there is always an unpleasant smell in the toilet. But if suddenly a strong smell of feces appears, then perhaps some diseases are developing in the body, although this is often associated with the food that was consumed the day before.

The smell of human waste is formed by gases that are produced during the digestion and breakdown of food.

Foul-smelling stool with fever

If the fecal matter has become liquid, it has a sharp putrid odor, and your overall health has worsened; this may be a sign of an intestinal infection. They can be bacterial (salmonellosis, dysentery) or viral (rotavirus and enterovirus infection). The symptoms are the same in almost all cases: first, the patient experiences profuse vomiting containing particles of undigested food, after which the temperature rises (up to 39°-40°), foul-smelling diarrhea occurs, and symptoms of dehydration increase. General signs of intoxication, which include lack of appetite, nausea, drowsiness and weakness, persist with intestinal infections for 3-5 days, after which improvement occurs.

Treatment of any intestinal infections and poisoning is always comprehensive. The basis is detoxification and rehydration therapy. One of the dangers of dehydration is the rapid leaching of potassium and magnesium ions, which can lead to acute heart failure, therefore an important task in the treatment of ACI is the restoration of water and electrolyte balance. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed specialized salt mixtures, for example, “ Gidrovit ” or “ Regidron ”. Polyphepan ”, “ Activated carbon ”, “ Neosmectin ”) are used to remove bacteria and their toxins

Powder for preparing Regidron solution

Further treatment is carried out using the following drugs:

antidiarrheals (“ Lopedium ”, “ Diara ”, “ Loperamide ”);
centrally acting drugs to stop vomiting (“ Cerukal ”);
antimicrobial drugs with a broad spectrum of action (“ Nifuroxazide ”, “ Enterofuril ”);
probiotics and prebiotics to populate the intestines with beneficial bacteria and restore the normal balance of microflora ( Linex , Bifiform );
antiviral drugs for viral infections (“ Ergoferon ”, “ Arbidol ”);
antispasmodics to eliminate paroxysmal intestinal spasms (“ Drotaverine ”, “ Spazmol ”).

The drug Enterofuril in the form of a suspension

For the entire period of treatment, the patient is prescribed a gentle diet, excluding dairy products, chips and crackers with flavors, fatty, spicy and fried foods.

Note! With properly selected therapy, normalization of stool should occur on the fifth day of treatment.

Signs of gastrointestinal infections

Immunology and biochemistry

Feces usually have a foul odor, but it is an odor that is general and unremarkable. Fetid feces have an unusually strong, putrid odor.

In many cases, foul-smelling stool is due to the foods you eat and the bacteria that have colonized your colon. But foul-smelling stool can also indicate serious health problems. Diarrhea and flatulence (gas) may accompany foul-smelling stool.

Such feces are often soft or liquid, and there is no regular bowel movement.

Causes of smelly stool

Often the cause of foul-smelling stool is changes in your diet. Another common cause is chronic disturbances of digestion, absorption and transport in the small intestine (malabsorption).

Enteropathies (chronic diseases of the small intestine) occur when the body is unable to absorb the required amount of nutrients from the food you eat.

Typically, this occurs when there is an intestinal infection or disease of the intestinal lining that makes it impossible to absorb nutrients from food.

Common Causes of Malabsorption

Celiac disease is a reaction to gluten that damages the lining of the small intestine and interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients.
Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or colitis
Carbohydrate intolerance – inability to digest sugars and starches
Food allergies, such as to milk protein

A common symptom of malabsorption is foul-smelling diarrhea.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, your reaction to certain foods may include foul-smelling diarrhea or constipation and flatulence. The gases may also have an unpleasant odor.
Intestinal infections can also be accompanied by an unpleasant smell of feces. Shortly after the infection develops, abdominal cramps may occur, followed by foul-smelling, loose stools.
Some medications may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. If you are allergic to ingredients or dietary supplements, taking some multivitamins may also cause foul-smelling stool. Unpleasant stool odor may occur after a course of antibiotics and persist until normal intestinal bacterial flora is restored.
Foul-smelling diarrhea may be a side effect of overdosing on a multivitamin or on any one vitamin or mineral. Diarrhea associated with multivitamins or medication overdose is a sign of a medical emergency. High doses of vitamin A, D, E, or K can cause life-threatening side effects.
Other conditions that can lead to foul-smelling stool include chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and short bowel syndrome (surgical removal of part of the small intestine that interferes with the absorption of nutrients).

Signs of smelly stool

Symptoms that may be associated with foul-smelling stool include:

Liquid feces (diarrhea)
Soft stool
Frequent bowel movements
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomit
Flatulence
Bloating

Foul-smelling stool may be a sign of a serious illness. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

Blood in the stool
Black chair
Pale stool
Fever
Abdominal pain
Unintentional weight loss
Chills.

How is foul-smelling feces diagnosed?

Your doctor will diagnose foul-smelling stool after you answer questions about your stool, such as:

consistency
When did you first notice the unpleasant odor?
how frequent are the urges?
what has changed in your diet (well analyze what you ate before your stool became smelly), foods you have recently started eating.

You will have a stool chemical test and a stool test to check for bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. A blood test may also be required.

Forecast

Your health prognosis depends on what is causing your foul-smelling stool. Most conditions that cause foul-smelling stool are treatable. However, diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease will require dietary changes and drug therapy throughout life.

Diagnostics

There is a special algorithm for examining patients with unpleasant stool odor. To make a correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment, first of all, a chemical analysis of stool is necessary. An important diagnostic test is a coprogram, a microscopic examination of excrement for the content of muscle fibers and other remains of undigested food. In addition, the enzymatic function of the stomach is examined and lactase deficiency is excluded. Check the condition of the gallbladder and pancreas. Sometimes a blood test is required, both general and biochemical, and serological. In accordance with the symptoms, FGDS, MSCT of the abdominal organs, and biopsy may be prescribed. Treatment at home without an accurate diagnosis and consultation with a professional can lead to undesirable consequences and dangerous complications.

Reasons for odor changes

The foul odor of feces appears in an adult most often due to rotting processes inherent in certain foods, such as onions and garlic. These are natural phytoncides, antibiotics that destroy pathogenic microflora in the intestines. Therefore, their use in food leads to intestinal sanitization and the appearance of a putrid odor. In addition, legumes, cabbage, fatty foods and chemical additives (stabilizers, flavor enhancers, preservatives) provide a specific pungent aroma. However, with proper nutrition, the putrid odor of feces indicates serious disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, including:

Changes in microflora balance or dysbacteriosis. The growth of pathogenic microbes leads to gastritis, enteritis, colitis, and is accompanied by a stench. In more than half of the cases, dysbiosis is a consequence of antibacterial therapy, when not only pathogenic microbes are destroyed, but also healthy flora. In this case, the stool becomes liquid, foamy, flatulence, bloating, rumbling, and bad breath occur. Sometimes skin rashes appear.
Food allergies. Honey and its derivatives, fresh milk, seafood and exotic fish, citrus fruits, cocoa are the cause of the unusual stench of feces. Food allergies are accompanied by a rash, dry, flaky and itchy skin, dyspepsia, lacrimation, sneezing and even laryngeal spasms.
Lack of enzymes, causing incomplete digestion of food. Food is poorly digested and produces foul-smelling stool. Most often, this happens with lactase deficiency, when whole milk is not digested, and it has to be replaced with fermented milk products. This condition is characterized by pain, watery stools, and weight loss.
Intestinal infection (II) along with fever, diarrhea, and general deterioration of the patient’s condition. Foul-smelling feces are the result of the activity of bacteria and viruses: salmonella, E. coli, rotavirus. Parents should be alerted to the sour smell of the child's stool, accompanied by anxiety, a disturbance in the general condition, and refusal to eat.
Chronic intestinal diseases, liver diseases. Therefore, if an unpleasant aroma of stool appears, which is not corrected by adjusting the diet, you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo a full clinical and laboratory examination.
Intestinal candidiasis is another reason why stool may smell. Fungi of the genus Candida are conditional pathogens, but with a decrease in immunity or against the background of long-term antibiotic therapy, they can begin to multiply rapidly and secrete specific toxins. This gives the stool a foul odor and causes thrush symptoms. There is gray mucus and cheesy particles in the stool, accompanied by symptoms of intoxication, itching in the perianal area and vagina, intestinal spasms, and excessive gas formation.
Worm infestation. Helminths cause not only a stench, but also defecation disorders (diarrhea or constipation), pale skin, pain symptoms, flatulence, allergies, and a sharp decrease in the body's defenses.
In women, another cause of foul-smelling stool is pregnancy and associated constipation. In addition, under conditions of hormonal changes, metabolic disorders and a gain of extra pounds are often observed, which greatly complicates the digestion of fats. During gestation, chronic diseases of the digestive system and kidneys also worsen. All this affects the aroma of feces. You can get rid of problems without special treatment, because after the birth of a child, digestion gradually normalizes.
In men, the smell of stool may depend on the use of anabolic steroids.

What changes in the body does the smell of stool indicate?

Quite often, by the smell of stool, doctors can suspect a particular disease that is latent and does not produce other symptoms. For example, stench is observed when the pancreas is not functioning properly due to blocking the access of bile to the digestive system. This is accompanied by bitterness in the mouth. The smell of rot indicates a pathology of the stomach, which is not able to digest proteins. A sour aroma indicates the predominance of fermentation processes in the intestines. A faint smell of stool indicates the development of constipation. There are also specific signs of diseases that are determined by the appearance of feces and their aroma:

The putrid aroma of oily feces may indicate the decomposition of undigested fats.
Feces that smell of sulfur (the smell of a rotten egg) signal poisoning with sulfur-containing compounds or increased putrefactive processes in the intestines associated with the abundant proliferation of bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide.
The smell of vinegar, ammonia, ammonia, rubber is also a sign of an increase in the number of pathogenic flora in the intestines.
A pungent ammonia aroma indicates a disorder in purine metabolism, kidney pathology, and lack of nitrogen absorption.
The sweetish aroma of stool is one of the signs of cholera.
If the stool smells like acetone, this indicates problems with the pancreas and the development of diabetes. But at the same time, the smell of acetone occurs with excessive physical exertion, binge drinking, fasting, or lack of carbohydrates in the diet.
Stool with a pungent aroma of rotten fish indicates the possibility of infection with worms or a urogenital infection caused by gardnerella.
Stool that smells like glue indicates dysentery.

It should be noted that all these signs are not a sufficient reason for diagnosis, but only allow one to suspect certain problems. That is why, if a strong odor appears during bowel movements, it is better to consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.

The smell of feces has changed: possible reasons

If a person eats right, but the stool has become foul-smelling, the cause may be disturbances in the functioning of the body that arise from internal pathologies or exposure to external factors.

Microflora disturbance

A condition in which the balance of beneficial and opportunistic microorganisms in the intestines is disturbed is called dysbiosis. Opportunistic pathogens are bacteria that are normally present in the human body in small quantities, but are in a latent state and do not cause harm to the body. When unfavorable conditions are created, opportunistic colonies begin to grow rapidly, which leads to intestinal infections, gastroenteritis and infectious intestinal colitis. Beneficial bacteria support normal digestion, take part in the formation of systemic and local immunity and increase the body's resistance to pathogens.

In almost 70% of cases, intestinal dysbiosis develops against the background of antibacterial or antimicrobial therapy, because drugs in this group destroy not only pathogenic but also beneficial bacteria. Pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:

changes in the odor and consistency of stool;
flatulence, a feeling of bloating and distension in the intestines;
rumbling in the stomach between meals;
bad breath;
frequent false urge to defecate.

In some cases, against the background of severe dysbacteriosis, a person may develop a skin rash, acne, and pimples. The smell of feces becomes fetid due to the prevailing pathogenic flora and their waste products.

To treat dysbiosis, a diet containing a large amount of fermented milk products (they contain lactobacilli necessary for the immune system) and plant fiber (cereals, vegetables, fruits) is prescribed. Drug treatment consists of taking bifid drugs (“Bifidumbacterin”, “Narine”, “Normobakt”, “Lactofiltrum”).

Food allergies

Allergies to certain foods can also cause human feces to suddenly develop a strong odor. The most popular food allergens are:

honey and bee products;
cow's milk (allergy is caused mainly by milk proteins - lactoglobulins);
Fish and seafood;
citruses;
chocolate and products with added butter or cocoa beans.

Food allergies can manifest themselves in different ways. The most typical skin manifestations are itching, rashes, dryness and flaking. Symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are also possible: dyspepsia, pain in the abdominal area, diarrhea, flatulence. In clinically severe forms of food allergy, systemic signs of allergy are added: lacrimation, runny nose, sneezing, laryngospasm.

Allergy treatment is a long process. The initial stage is a comprehensive diagnosis, which includes immunological tests and tests to identify the allergen. Symptomatic therapy is carried out using histamine blockers (Claritin, Suprastin, Tavegil, Loratadine). Full recovery requires cleansing the intestines of waste and toxins, as well as special therapy, which consists of introducing microdoses of the allergen under the skin. This method allows you to develop stable immunity, as a result of which the body ceases to recognize the allergen as a foreign agent.

Enzyme deficiency

Enzymopathy is a pathology in which the production of digestive enzymes necessary for the absorption and breakdown of certain products is partially or completely stopped. It can be congenital or occur as a result of various disorders in the functioning of internal organs. One of the forms of fermentopathy in adults is lactase deficiency - a lack of the enzyme responsible for the absorption of milk sugar. Symptoms of lactase deficiency in patients over 18 years of age may include abdominal pain, foamy or watery stools with a strong, foul odor, and weight loss associated with poor absorption of milk protein.

All signs of pathology appear mainly after consuming fermented milk products or products based on whole cow's milk. It should be noted that true lactase deficiency is rarely diagnosed - such patients are forced to adhere to a special diet throughout their lives that excludes dairy products. Temporary lactase deficiency is treated with enzyme preparations (Lactazar, Lactase).

What foods can cause a strong odor?

The pungent, putrid odor of feces can sometimes be associated with dietary patterns and rotting processes that some foods provoke. The “champions” among them are vegetables rich in phytoncides - all varieties of onions and garlic. If a person consumes them in increased quantities, the feces may acquire a fetid odor associated with the destruction of pathogenic flora, which may be present in small quantities in the intestinal mucous membranes. An increase in odor can be observed with frequent consumption of cabbage, legumes, and foods with a lot of fat.

Onions and garlic provoke rotting processes in the body

Almost always, a foul odor appears if a person’s diet often contains foods that:

contain a large number of chemical additives (stabilizers, flavor enhancers, flavorings, preservatives);
were stored under unsuitable temperature or sanitary conditions;
contain signs of packaging damage (swollen and dented cans, leaking bags, etc.).

Note! If, simultaneously with the strong smell of feces, the patient develops other symptoms, for example, vomiting, fever or cramping pain in the lower abdomen, the most likely cause is foodborne illness (poisoning).

Signs of food poisoning

Sour-smelling feces: causes, treatment, prevention

Testing for intestinal diseases by smelling stool is increasingly being used around the world. British doctors have developed a whole system for identifying intestinal disorders based on the putrid odor of feces.

And there is nothing strange about this - pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms cause food to rot and release certain harmful toxins that contribute to the formation of an unpleasant odor in stool. A similar testing system was created based on a sensor for recognizing odors characteristic of certain ailments.

1 Reasons
2 What does feces smell like?
3 Treatment
4 Prevention

Causes

The sour smell of feces is an alarming symptom. The reason may be hidden not only in digestive disorders.

The pathology is influenced by chronic intestinal diseases, the development of life-threatening infections - dysbiosis, impaired transportation of food masses, damage to the pancreas.

If the human body cannot adequately ensure the correct process of absorption of vital substances in the intestines, then a chronic illness develops. Poor absorption and very foul-smelling stool may be caused by:

Food allergies;
intestinal infections;
celiac disease;
food intolerance;
Crohn's disease;
inflammation.

As a result, microbes poison the intestines more with their toxins and provoke increased rotting of food. Diarrhea with a sour smell indicates a chronic disorder of the digestive processes and intestinal infection.

Nasty and loose stools in an adult can occur due to pancreatic insufficiency.

Important! If the diarrhea has an odor, you should consult a doctor. Smelly diarrhea is often accompanied by abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, flatulence, fever

All of these conditions can be extremely dangerous.

What does feces smell like?

What determines the smell of feces? The answer is obvious - from the food taken the day before. Feces without an unpleasant odor are practically never found - certain foods provoke a corresponding “aroma” of feces.

When eating meat, there is a sharp-smelling poop; after eating dairy products or beer, a sour odor may occur. The stench appears when there is illness and the flow of bile into the intestines.

A sour smell occurs if a person has consumed too much sugar, peas, legumes, or fruits. Foods rich in carbohydrates cause fermentation and dyspepsia.
The stench develops with impaired pancreatic function and pancreatitis. Also, the stench occurs when there is hypersecretion of the intestines, if diarrhea occurs.
A putrid smell is a sign of impaired digestion. Appears when proteins are poorly absorbed in the digestive system.
Oily accents in the smell indicate the influence of bacteria and the decomposition of fats.

Treatment

In the process of therapy and correction of digestive disorders, it is necessary to adhere to a certain diet. Overeating, drinking alcohol, fatty meats, fried and spicy foods are extremely harmful to the body. In case of obvious violations, you should consult a doctor. For therapy, medications are prescribed to restore digestion.

If an infection is detected, treatment requires the use of an antibiotic. In case of poisoning, drugs that relieve intoxication are used. If no infection is detected, it is enough to follow a diet and take a vitamin complex.

On a note! Diarrhea in adults is treated with medications that harden the stool. Infection is indicated by strongly foul-smelling stools and frequent bowel movements. In some dangerous situations, hospital treatment may be necessary.

Prevention

To avoid various disorders in bowel movements and digestion, it is important to properly handle foods when preparing food.

Meat must be subjected to strong heat treatment. Do not cook meat and vegetables on the same cutting board. Vegetables may be contaminated with salmonella or other pathogenic flora. Bacterial infection of the intestines must not be allowed.

For various pathologies, obesity, and chronic illnesses, it is important to adjust your own diet. The menu should not contain food that causes fermentation in the intestines or irritates the walls of the stomach. These measures will significantly reduce the risk of complications.

It is necessary to observe not only the diet, but also the drinking regimen. Drinking plenty of water should be done daily. You need to drink a lot, using clean table water, and avoid soda. It is allowed to drink teas, fruit drinks, compotes. It is better to avoid freshly squeezed fresh juices.

Daily exercise and walks in the fresh air help improve health. Physical activity stabilizes the functioning of the digestive system and improves peristalsis of organs. The food entering the body is absorbed much faster.

All of the above measures contribute to the fact that the digestive organs will soon begin to work like a clock. The diet prevents the development of constipation and diarrhea, strengthens the immune system and ensures normal feces and bowel movements.

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