Foul Smelling: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
The stool normally has an unpleasant odor, but a foul smelling stool has an unusually strong putrid odor. Most of the time, foul smelling stools are caused by the foods people eat and the bacteria in their colon. However, foul smelling stools can also present a serious health problem. Diarrhea, bloating, or gas can occur with foul smelling stools, which are often loose or runny.
The foul smelling stool is the odor associated with stool or feces. The stools typically have an unpleasant odor.
Stools form in the large intestine (colon), which is part of the digestive system. Usually, the "good bacteria" live in your large intestine and help digest or break down food scraps that enter the large intestine from the small intestine. Stools form during this process. Stool passes through the large intestine to the rectum for elimination from the body. The typical, unpleasant odor associated with stool is the result of bacteria.
Changes in stool odor can be caused by the foods you eat. Even extremely foul smelling stools can be caused by changes in your diet. However, abnormally foul smelling stools can also be a sign of an illness, disorder, or condition. Examples include celiac disease,Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and intestinal infections. Due to the range of possible causes of a bad stool odor, correct diagnosis of the underlying disease, disorder, or condition is essential. Contact your healthcare professional for a physical exam.
In some cases, foul smelling stools can be a sign of a severe or life-threatening illness, such as a gut infection, abscess, or blockage. See a doctor right away if you have foul smelling stools accompanied by severe symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, cramping, and bloody stools. See a doctor promptly if your stool odor is unusual, unexplained, persistent, or worrying.
Causes of Foul Smelling Stool and Gas
Antibiotics and infection:
People who take antibiotics may experience temporary stomach pain and foul smelling stools and gas. This is because antibiotics can upset the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Signs usually go away soon after antibiotic treatment once the good bacteria in the gut have built up. Sometimes antibiotics can destroy so many good gut bacteria that the harmful bacteria grow out of control, causing infection.
People who experience an overgrowth of harmful gut bacteria while taking antibiotics may notice the following signs:
- watery, foul-smelling diarrhea, which may contain pus or blood
- pain, tenderness, and cramps in the abdomen
-
fever
Lactose intolerance:
Lactose is a type of sugar that can be found in milk and other dairy products. The human body breaks down lactose, and an enzyme called lactase digests it.
A person with lactose intolerance does not make enough lactase to digest lactose.
People who are lactose intolerant may experience the following signs after consuming dairy products:
Milk allergy:
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACCAI) explains that having a milk allergy is not the same as lactose intolerance.
People who are allergic to milk have an immune reaction to milk and milk products.
PSigns of milk allergy include:
- bloody and foul-smelling stools
-
stomach ache
- urticaria
- anaphylaxis, a rare but potentially fatal allergic reaction
Short Bowel Syndrome:
Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare condition that occurs when part of the small or large intestine is missing or unable to function. Because of this, people with SBS often suffer from malabsorption, which can lead to severe complications. SBS can occur for many reasons. A common cause is the surgical removal of part of the intestine after treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Signs of SBS vary among people but can include:
- pale, oily, and foul-smelling stools
- severe diarrhea
- dehydration
- weight and muscle loss
- lethargy
- malnutrition
- bloating
- stomach pains
Chronic pancreatitis is a persistent inflammation of the pancreas that gets worse over time. It causes irreparable damage and affects a person's ability to digest food and make pancreatic hormones.
Signs may include:
- oil, greasy, and foul-smelling stools
- nausea
- vomiting
- pain in the upper abdomen and back, which gets worse with eating or drinking
- pale or clayey stools
- malnutrition and weight loss
Diagnosis
Antibiotics and infection:
In most cases, a doctor can diagnose stomach pain associated with antibiotics by doing a physical exam and asking about a person's history of antibiotic treatment. They may also request a stool sample to check for bacterial toxins.
Lactose intolerance:
People who suspect they are lactose intolerant should eliminate all dairy products from their diet for several days. After the dairy-free period, they should reintroduce milk or dairy products to see if the symptoms return.
Other diagnostic tests include:
-
Blood test: This shows whether or not a person can successfully digest lactose after consuming products that contain it.
-
A hydrogen breath test: This involves a person repeatedly blowing a bag after consuming lactose. If the collected air contains high levels of hydrogen, this indicates lactose intolerance.
-
A stool acidity test: This is a test of a person's stool after ingesting lactose. A very acidic stool sample indicates lactose intolerance.
-
A genetic test: This involves analyzing a sample of blood or saliva for a gene linked to lactose intolerance.
-
Surgical biopsy of the intestine: This involves a surgeon removing a small piece of the intestine for analysis.
Milk allergy:
According to the ACCAI, diagnostic tests include:
-
Skin test: A doctor dabs some milk on the person's arm, then lightly pricks the area with a needle. Irritation at the site indicates an allergy.
-
Blood test: This checks for antibodies to immunoglobulin E, which the body produces in response to allergens.
-
ral food challenge: A person consumes a small amount of the allergen in the presence of a doctor or allergist.
Short bowel syndrome:
A doctor may order the following tests to help diagnose SBS:
-
Blood tests: These can check for anemia, malnutrition, and dehydration.
-
Imaging techniques(abdominal x-rays and CT scans): These can check for obstructions and loss of bowel function.
-
Liver biopsy: This can check liver function.
Chronic pancreatitis:
A doctor will do a physical exam and take a thorough medical history. They may also order the following diagnostic tests:
- CT scan
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, a type of MRI scan that uses a dye to make it easier to see internal organs
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Endoscopic ultrasound, in which a doctor inserts a flexible tube, or endoscope, into the small intestine through your mouth
Foul Smell Treatment
Antibiotics and infection:
In most cases, symptoms go away soon after a person finishes antibiotic treatment. In the meantime, the following home treatments may help reduce the severity of symptoms:
- Drink lots of fluids
- Avoiding wheat, dairy, and foods high in fiber, which can further irritate the intestines
Milk allergy:
The only way to manage a milk allergy is to avoid milk and products containing milk.
The ACCAI also notes that a doctor or allergist may advise someone with a milk allergy to carry an epinephrine pen. These allow a person to self-inject epinephrine in the event of anaphylactic shock.
Short bowel syndrome:
Doctors usually tailor treatment for SBS to a person's symptoms and the amount of bowel they affect. Some treatment options include:
- Anti-diarrheal drugs
- Medicines to replace the intestinal lining
- Dietary adjustments
- Intravenous fluids
- Surgery
Chronic pancreatitis:
According to the National Pancreas Foundation, treatments for chronic pancreatitis focus on pain relief. They may include:
- Take pain relievers
- Undergoing a
Whipple procedure
or surgery to remove pancreatic lesions
- having a pancreatectomy or surgery to remove all or part of the pancreas
When to see a Doctor?
Visit to Gastroenterologist if you experience any of these:
- Black or pale stools often
-
Blood in the stool
- Changes in the stool related to diet
- Chills
- Cramping
- Fever
- Pain in the abdomen
- Weight loss
How to Prevent Foul Smelling Stool
Here are some ways to prevent foul smelling stools:
Make dietary changes:
Making dietary changes can help prevent foul smelling stools. For example, avoid drinking raw or unpasteurized milk. If you have a condition that affects how you absorb food or how your body responds to eating certain foods, your doctor can create a diet that is right for you. Following this diet plan can help reduce symptoms such as:
- abdominal pain
- abdominal bloating
- foul-smelling stool
For inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you can follow a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs).
Handle food correctly:
Avoid bacterial infections in your food by handling it properly. Cook raw foods well before eating them. Examples include:
- beef
- poultry
- pork
- eggs
- Cooking well means checking the internal temperature of your food with a thermometer before you eat it.
- Check with your local health department for the minimum internal temperature each type of food should reach before eating it.
- Do not prepare meat and vegetables on the same cutting board. Preparing them on the same board can spread Salmonella or other bacteria.
- You should also wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat or using the toilet.
