Pungent sour smell of feces. What should be a normal stool and what do its changes say?

Testing of intestinal diseases by the smell of feces is increasingly being used in the world. British doctors have developed a whole system for determining intestinal disorders by the putrid smell of feces.

And there is nothing strange in 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 on the basis of a sensor for recognizing odors characteristic of certain ailments.

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 a life-threatening infection - dysbacteriosis, impaired transport of food masses, and damage to the pancreas. If the human body cannot adequately ensure the correct process of absorption of vital substances in the intestine, then a chronic illness develops. Poor absorption and very offensive stools can be caused by:

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

With the above violations, there is severe diarrhea (and it stinks), nausea, insufficient absorption of useful components from food. Fetid stools are a sign of low absorption and increased gas formation in the intestines. Similar stools with vomiting occur in acute intestinal infections, when the normal bacterial flora of the digestive system is disturbed.

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

Important! If the diarrhea is odorous, you need to see a doctor. Smelly diarrhea is often accompanied by abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, flatulence, and fever. All of these conditions can be extremely dangerous.

Normally, a healthy person defecates no more than twice a day. Fecal masses have a soft texture. Emptying occurs without effort 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 fermentation and putrefactive hues.

What does feces smell like?

What causes 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 the corresponding "aroma" of feces. When eating meat, a sharp-smelling poop is observed, after taking dairy products or beer, a sour smell may occur. The stench appears with diseases and the flow of bile into the intestines.

A sour smell occurs if a person has consumed too much sugar, peas, legumes, fruits. Foods rich in carbohydrates cause fermentation and dyspepsia.
The stench develops with impaired pancreatic function and pancreatitis. Also, the stench occurs with hypersecretion of the intestine, if diarrhea occurs.
A putrid smell is a sign of impaired digestion. Appears with poor digestion of proteins in the digestive system.
Oily accents in the smell indicate the impact 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 meat, fried and spicy foods are extremely harmful to the body. In case of obvious violations, you should consult a doctor. For therapy, drugs are prescribed that ensure the restoration of digestion.

If an infection is detected, treatment requires the use of an antibiotic. In case of poisoning, drugs that remove intoxication are used. If the infection is not detected, it is enough to follow a diet and take a vitamin complex.

On a note! Diarrhea in an adult is treated with medicines that fix the stool. Infection is indicated by strongly fetid 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 handle foods properly when preparing food.

Meat must be subjected to a strong heat treatment. Do not cook meat and vegetables on the same cutting board. Vegetables can be contaminated with salmonella or other pathogens. It is impossible to allow bacterial infection of the intestine.

With various pathologies, obesity, chronic ailments, 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 drinking. Drinking plenty of water should be done daily. It is necessary to drink a lot, using clean table water, and exclude soda. It is allowed to drink teas, fruit drinks, compotes. It is better to refuse freshly squeezed fresh juices.

Daily exercise and walks in the fresh air contribute to health. Motor activity stabilizes the digestive system and improves organ peristalsis. The food that enters 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 clockwork. The diet prevents the development of constipation and diarrhea, strengthens the immune system and ensures normal feces and defecation.

Feces usually have an unpleasant odor, but this is an odor that is common and unremarkable. Fetid stools have an unusually strong, putrid odor. In many cases, foul-smelling stools are due to the foods you eat and the bacteria that have colonized your large intestine. But foul-smelling feces can also indicate serious health problems. Diarrhea and flatulence (gas) may accompany foul-smelling stools. Such feces are often soft or liquid, and there is no regular bowel movement.

Causes of bad stools

Often the cause of bad-smelling stool is a change in your diet. Another common cause is a chronic disorder of digestion, absorption, and transport in the small intestine ( malabsorption). Enteropathy (chronic disease of the small intestine) occurs when the body is unable to absorb the required amount of nutrients from the food you eat. This usually happens when there is an intestinal infection or a disease of the intestinal mucosa that prevents the absorption of food nutrients.

Common Causes of Malabsorption

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

A common symptom of malabsorption is fetid diarrhea.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, then the reaction to certain foods is manifested by fetid diarrhea or constipation, flatulence. Gases can 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 medicines can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. If you are allergic to ingredients, nutritional supplements, then taking some multivitamins can also lead to foul-smelling stools. Foul-smelling stools can occur after a course of antibiotics and persist until the normal bacterial flora of the intestine is restored.
Fetid diarrhea can be a side effect of an overdose of multivitamins or 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 smelly stools include chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and short bowel syndrome (surgical removal of part of the small intestine that interferes with absorption of nutrients).

Signs of bad-smelling stool

Symptoms that may be associated with smelly stools include:

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

Bad-smelling feces 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 smelly feces diagnosed?

Bad stool is diagnosed by a doctor after you answer questions about your stool, such as

consistency
when did you first notice the bad smell
how frequent are the urges
what has changed in your diet (take a good look at what you ate before your stool became smelly), foods you recently started eating.

Forecast

The prognosis for health depends on what caused the foul-smelling stool. Most conditions that cause bad-smelling stools are treatable. However, diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease will require dietary changes and drug therapy throughout life.

Prevention

Necessary dietary changes can help prevent bad-smelling stools. If your bowel disease is related to a reaction to certain foods, your doctor can create a diet plan that is right for you. A well-chosen diet can help reduce abdominal pain, bloating, and smelly stools.

Avoid foodborne bacterial infections through proper food preparation. There are no dietary restrictions, it is important to cook beef, poultry, pork and eggs in such a way as to exclude bacterial contamination. Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk. Do not cook meat and vegetables on the same cutting board. Cooking them on the same board can lead to contamination of vegetables with salmonella or other bacteria. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat and using the toilet.

Normally, feces should have a light brown color, the shape of a dense sausage and a mild characteristic odor. If the feces in an adult become foul-smelling, in some cases this is due to dietary habits. Correction of the diet should help solve the problem, but if this does not happen, you should consult a doctor and exclude pathologies of the digestive and excretory systems.

Bad smell of feces in an adult

What foods can cause a strong odor?

The sharp, putrid smell of feces can sometimes be associated with the characteristics of the diet and the processes of decay that provoke some foods. The "champions" among them are vegetables rich in phytoncides - all varieties of onions and garlic. If a person consumes them in an increased amount, feces can acquire a fetid odor associated with the destruction of pathogenic flora, which may be present in small quantities in the intestinal mucosa. Increased odor can be observed with frequent consumption of cabbage, legumes, foods with a lot of fat.

Onions and garlic provoke rotting processes in the body

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

contain a large number of chemical additives (stabilizers, flavor enhancers, flavors, preservatives);
stored in unsuitable temperature or hygienic conditions;
contain traces of packaging violations (swollen and dented cans, leaky bags, etc.).

Note! If, along with a strong smell of feces, the patient develops other symptoms, such as vomiting, fever, or cramping pain in the lower abdomen, food poisoning (poisoning) is the most likely cause.

Signs of food poisoning

The smell of feces has changed: possible causes

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

Violation of microflora

A condition in which the balance of beneficial and opportunistic microorganisms is disturbed in the intestines is called dysbacteriosis. 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, the rapid growth of opportunistic colonies begins, which leads to intestinal infections, gastroenteritis and infectious colitis of the intestine. Beneficial bacteria support normal digestion, take part in the formation of systemic and local immunity and increase the body's resistance to pathogens.

The main symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis in an adult

In almost 70% of cases, intestinal dysbacteriosis 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:

change in the smell and consistency of the stool;
flatulence, a feeling of bloating and fullness 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.

Additional signs of dysbacteriosis

For the treatment of dysbacteriosis, a diet is prescribed that contains a large amount of fermented milk products (they contain lactobacilli necessary for immunity) and vegetable fiber (cereals, vegetables, fruits). Drug treatment consists in taking bifidopreparations ("Bifidumbacterin", "Narine", "Normobakt", "Laktofiltrum").

Fermented milk bioproduct Narine

food allergy

Allergies to certain foods can also cause the sudden onset of a strong odor from human stool. The most common food allergens are:

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

Food allergy symptoms

Food allergies can manifest themselves in different ways. The most typical are skin manifestations: itching, rashes, dryness and peeling. Symptoms of 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.

Changes in feces with food allergies

Allergy treatment is a long process. The initial stage is a comprehensive diagnosis, which includes immunological tests and tests for the detection of an allergen. Symptomatic therapy is carried out using histamine blockers ("Claritin", "Suprastin", "Tavegil", "Loratadin"). For a complete recovery, cleansing of the intestines from toxins and toxins is required, as well as special therapy, which consists in introducing microdoses of the allergen under the skin. This method allows you to develop a stable immunity, as a result of which the body ceases to recognize the allergen as a foreign agent.

Lack of enzymes

Fermentopathy is a pathology in which the production of digestive enzymes necessary for the absorption and breakdown of certain foods is partially or completely stopped. It can be congenital or occur due to various disorders in the functioning of internal organs. One form of fermentopathy in adults is lactase deficiency - a lack of an enzyme responsible for the absorption of milk sugar. Symptoms of lactase deficiency in patients over 18 years of age may include abdominal pain, frothy or watery stools with a sharp, fetid odor, weight loss associated with poor absorption of milk protein.

Fermentopathy in adults

All signs of pathology appear mainly after the use of 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 that excludes dairy products throughout their lives. Temporary lactase deficiency is treated with enzyme preparations ("Lactazar", "Lactase").

Fetid feces with fever

If the fecal masses become liquid, they have a sharp putrid odor, the general state of health has worsened, this may be a sign of an intestinal infection. They can be bacterial (salmonellosis, dysentery) or viral (rotavirus and enterovirus infection). Symptoms are the same in almost all cases: first, the patient develops profuse vomiting containing particles of undigested food, after which the temperature rises (up to 39 ° -40 °), fetid 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 poisonings is always complex. 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, so an important task in the treatment of acute intestinal infections is to restore water and electrolyte balance. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed specialized salt mixtures, for example, Hydrovit or Regidron. To remove bacteria and their toxins, enterosorbents are used ("Polifepan", "Activated carbon", "Neosmectin").

Powder for solution preparation Regidron

Further treatment is carried out using the following drugs:

antidiarrheals ("Lopedium", "Diara", "Loperamide");
drugs of central action to stop vomiting ("Cerukal");
antimicrobial drugs with a wide spectrum of action ("Nifuroxazid", "Enterofuril");
probiotics and prebiotics for colonizing the intestines with beneficial bacteria and restoring 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 shown a sparing diet that excludes dairy products, chips and crackers with flavors, fatty, spicy and fried foods.

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

Signs of gastrointestinal infections

Pungent smell of feces in diseases of the intestine

If a person feels satisfactory, but periodically notices that the excrement has a fetid odor, it is necessary to examine the intestines to exclude its diseases. To begin with, you should pass a fecal analysis for helminths (including scraping for enterobiasis) and a coprogram. These studies will make it possible to find out the chemical composition of feces, to detect signs of an inflammatory process and to identify possible disorders in the digestive processes (for example, in inflammatory processes, an increased amount of detritus is determined in the feces).

After receiving the results of laboratory diagnostics, the doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis and prescribe an additional examination, if there are indications for this. Secondary diagnostics may include hardware and instrumental methods, such as colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, ultrasound or barium enema. In some cases, an accurate diagnosis may require consultation and examination by a proctologist.

What does the color of stool mean?

Inflammation of the intestines (colitis and enteritis)

The human intestine consists of two sections: the large intestine and the small intestine. The small intestine is located immediately after the stomach, and its inflammation is called enteritis. Inflammation of the epithelial lining of the large intestine is called colitis and occurs in every fourth patient with diseases of the digestive system. Fetid feces in an adult are characteristic mainly of chronic colitis, since acute forms of pathology occur with severe symptoms, and their clinical picture is similar to the symptoms of intestinal infections.

Chronic inflammation of the small or large intestine can occur for several reasons, including food and drug allergies, dietary errors, alcohol abuse, and smoking. Tumors in the intestines can also provoke an inflammatory process, so preventive endoscopic diagnostics is indicated for all people, regardless of their health, at least once a year.

Signs of chronic colitis or enteritis are:

painful intestinal spasms, accompanied by bloating and flatulence;
bursting and pressure in the central or lower abdomen;
nausea (rarely - vomiting);
unpleasant, pungent odor from excrement;
stool disorders.

Intestinal condition in colitis

Treatment of both pathologies involves a therapeutic diet (table No. 4 according to Pevzner), physiotherapy, and massage. Drug correction may consist of symptomatic agents (carminative drugs based on simethicone, antispasmodics, antidiarrheal or laxative drugs), antibiotics. Also, patients must be prescribed drugs that accelerate the healing of damaged mucous membranes (tablets "Metiluracil").

Methyluracil tablets

Important! If the inflammation arose as a result of circulatory disorders in the intestinal vessels, the patient is additionally selected drugs for the prevention of thrombosis (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants).

intestinal candidiasis

Fungi of the genus Candida are conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, that is, they are normally present in the human microflora, but in small quantities that do not allow the development of a fungal infection. If the protective functions of the body weaken, Candida begins to actively multiply and release toxins that cause acute intoxication and poison the intestines.

Symptoms of intestinal candidiasis

Intestinal candidiasis is almost impossible to identify without laboratory diagnosis, since there are usually no specific symptoms in this disease. The main manifestations of intestinal thrush are associated with a change in defecation and the appearance of feces. The patient may be disturbed by frequent false urges to empty the intestines, pain of varying intensity in the lower abdomen, stool disorders. Feces with candidiasis become offensive, it may contain white particles, similar to cottage cheese, as well as a small amount of grayish mucus. Other symptoms of the disease include:

lack of appetite that occurs against the background of moderate nausea (in rare cases, a single vomiting is possible as signs of intoxication of the body);
itching in the anal ring during bowel movements;
rumbling in the stomach;
intestinal spasms;
flatulence;
flutulence syndrome ("explosive" discharge of a large amount of odorous gases).

The development of intestinal candidiasis

Treatment of candidiasis is carried out with the help of antifungal drugs (in oral dosage form). Their list is shown in the table below.

Antimycotics for the treatment of thrush in the intestines in adults

Immunology and Biochemistry

Fetid feces

What causes bad odor in stool?

Causes of bad stools

Often the cause of bad-smelling stool is a change in your diet. Another common cause is a chronic disorder of digestion, absorption and transport in the small intestine (malabsorption). Enteropathy (chronic disease of the small intestine) occurs when the body is unable to absorb the required amount of nutrients from the food you eat. This usually happens when there is an intestinal infection or a disease of the intestinal mucosa that prevents the absorption of food nutrients.

Common Causes of Malabsorption

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

A common symptom of malabsorption is fetid diarrhea.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, then the reaction to certain foods is manifested by fetid diarrhea or constipation, flatulence. Gases can 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 medicines can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. If you are allergic to ingredients, nutritional supplements, then taking some multivitamins can also lead to foul-smelling stools. Foul-smelling stools can occur after a course of antibiotics and persist until the normal bacterial flora of the intestine is restored.
Fetid diarrhea can be a side effect of an overdose of multivitamins or 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 smelly stools include chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and short bowel syndrome (surgical removal of part of the small intestine that interferes with absorption of nutrients).

Signs of bad-smelling stool

Symptoms that may be associated with smelly stools include:

Bad-smelling stools can 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 smelly feces diagnosed?

Bad stool is diagnosed by a doctor after you answer questions about your stool, such as

consistency
when did you first notice the bad smell
how frequent are the urges
what has changed in your diet (take a good look at what you ate before your stool became smelly), foods you recently started eating.

Prevention

The smell of feces - the causes of sour, fetid, pungent, putrid and rotten smell of feces

The smell of feces is also an important indicator of bowel function, which reflects the content of aromatic substances such as indole, phenol and skatole, and also allows you to judge the work of the microflora of the lower gastrointestinal tract.

In healthy people, feces have an unpleasant, not pungent odor that does not attract much attention and is considered normal feces. Each person has his own characteristic smell of stool, changes in which can be noted without much difficulty.

Why does stool smell change?

The smell of feces can change in a variety of situations, such as changes in the daily diet, as well as violations of the motor and evacuation function of the intestine. So, in people suffering from constipation or supporters of vegetarian cuisine, the smell of feces is insignificant and may not even be felt. In cases of predominance in the diet of protein foods and alcohol abuse, the smell intensifies, which cannot go unnoticed.

It is important to correctly understand the changes in the smell of feces in various pathologies, which will allow timely diagnosis and proper treatment of the disease.

The most common cause of increased stool odor is a violation of the activity of the intestinal microflora, as well as a lack of digestive enzymes. In this case, putrefactive processes occur in the intestines, which is manifested by the characteristic smell of hydrogen sulfide.
With difficult digestion of plant foods rich in fiber, a pathological condition such as fermentative dyspepsia may occur, in which the sour smell of stool attracts attention.
Insufficient function of the pancreas is manifested by a lack of digestive enzymes, up to their complete absence. In this case, processes of putrefactive decay of undigested food are observed in the intestines, as evidenced by the characteristic putrid smell of feces.

The most threatening is the sharp, fetid smell of feces, which people associate with the rotten smell of carrion. If this smell was detected, then you should immediately consult a doctor for a full diagnosis, since this smell of stool most often occurs during the decay of malignant neoplasms in the intestine.

Smell of feces

The smell of feces is determined by the presence of aromatic substances in it (phenol, indole, skatole, etc.), which are formed as a result of bacterial breakdown of proteins. Normally, the smell should be unpleasant, but not sharp.

The smell of feces usually depends on the nature of the food. If meat products predominate in food, the smell of feces becomes stronger, sharper. With the predominance of plant or dairy foods, the smell becomes weaker. With diarrhea, the smell of feces is sharper, and with constipation, feces have almost no smell, due to the absorption of protein breakdown products in the intestines.

A sour smell is observed with fermentative dyspepsia (indigestion associated with excessive consumption of carbohydrates (flour products, sugar, fruits, cabbage, peas, etc.) and fermentative drinks, such as kvass).

A sharp putrid smell of feces can be caused by indigestion in the stomach, putrefactive dyspepsia (digestion associated with excessive consumption of protein foods that are slowly digested in the intestines), colitis with constipation.

A fetid odor occurs when the secretion of the pancreas is impaired, in the absence of bile flow into the digestive tract.

A weak smell occurs with constipation, indigestion, accelerated evacuation from the small intestine.

Bad smell of feces

Fetid stools are stools with a very foul odor. As a rule, this is due to the food that the patient consumes, but it can also be a sign of the disease.

Any stool almost always has a foul fecal odor, but a fetid stool is one that has a particularly nasty and unbearable smell that is different from the usual. This symptom may be associated with certain medical conditions. Fetid stools can also have the most common causes, such as changes in diet.

Causes of bad stools

cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis);

Short bowel syndrome.

Diagnosis and treatment

Black or pale stools;

Changes in stool related to diet;

High body temperature;

The attending physician will perform a diagnostic examination and may ask the patient the following questions about their medical history:

When the patient first noticed that his stool had become offensive;

Whether the color of the stool is normal or not (pale or clay);

Is it difficult to flush this stool;

What diets the patient has recently used;

Changes in the diet of the patient worsened or improved the smell of the stool;

What other symptoms does the patient have?

The doctor may take a stool sample. Other tests may also be needed.

What does the appearance of a fetid odor of stool in adults say?

Feces always smell unpleasant, but this is their usual smell, which does not draw attention to itself. The fetid smell of adult feces is a rather strong, putrid smell. The appearance of such a nuisance is associated with the nutrition of a person or his diseases. It is also an indicator of the work and microflora of the patient's digestive organs. You can determine the presence of substances in the composition of feces: indole, phenol, skatole.

A strong unpleasant smell of feces can indicate a number of diseases.

Reasons for the appearance

There are several reasons that affect the change in the smell of feces.

Nutrition

The putrid smell of feces is often associated with a person's eating habits. There are foods that provoke rotting processes in the stomach and intestines. The list of such products includes: vegetables containing phytoncides (onion and garlic), as well as cabbage, legumes, fatty foods, yeast-baked pastries. Also, a bad smell appears when eating products containing: flavors, preservatives, stabilizers, flavor enhancers, as well as food that has not been stored properly.

If vomiting, fever, weakness in the body appeared along with this symptom, then most likely it is food poisoning.

Disturbed intestinal microflora

The causes of bad-smelling stool can be independent of a person's diet. This may be a violation of the functions of the body due to diseases or the environment. When an imbalance of pathogenic and beneficial flora occurs inside the intestine, dysbacteriosis begins. Pathogenic bacteria are always present in the body in moderate amounts, but in an unfavorable state of the body, they begin to increase in number, which contributes to the development of intestinal diseases, gastroenteritis, colitis, etc. Very often, dysbacteriosis develops after taking antibiotics, because these medicines kill as bad and good bacteria.

Often a fetid odor is observed with dysbacteriosis

The presence of dysbacteriosis is indicated by: stools of irregular consistency and bad smell, the presence of gases and bloating, as well as an unpleasant smell when breathing. Sometimes there are rashes on the skin. The smell of feces becomes unbearable due to the large number of pathogenic microorganisms.

food allergy

This can also cause such trouble as fetid feces. The most common allergens are honey, cow's milk, fish and seafood, citrus fruits, and chocolate.

Symptoms: skin rashes and itching, dryness, peeling, intestinal dyspepsia, diarrhea, flatulence. During a severe form of a food allergy, watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose may be present. Allergy treatment is a slow process. First, the disease is diagnosed. Do immunological tests to determine the allergen. Symptomatic drugs are prescribed, the intestines are cleansed of toxins.

An unpleasant smell of feces can be an allergic reaction to a number of foods.

Insufficient amount of enzymes

Fermentopathy occurs when the body does not form the enzymes necessary for the digestion of food, or very few of them are produced. Pathology can be already from birth or acquired due to diseases. A subspecies of fermentopathy is lactose deficiency, in which milk sugars are not absorbed. Symptoms of insufficient production of an enzyme for the digestion of lactose in adults: frothy, fetid stools, weight loss.

Lactose deficiency makes itself felt after eating dairy and sour-milk products.

Methods for diagnosing symptoms

The attending physician examines and interviews the patient about his disease. It is especially important to find out the following:

How long ago did the patient notice the presence of an unpleasant smell of feces.
What color are stools.
Is it easy to flush out feces?

At the appointment, the doctor should be told about all the symptoms and nutritional habits.

Has the patient been on any diets recently?
What changes have occurred with feces after changes in nutrition.
What other symptoms does the patient have?

Perhaps the doctor will take rotten-smelling stool for chemical analysis and to determine the presence of bacteria and infections in it.

What does this or that smell of feces say?

The sour smell appears with excessive consumption of sugars, peas and other legumes, as well as fruits. Carbohydrates cause fermentation in the intestines and dyspepsia. In addition, a putrid smell indicates a violation of digestion and poor digestibility of proteins.

An unpleasant smell of feces with an oily accent indicates bacteria and the decomposition of fats. In some cases, feces smell like acetone during the development of diabetes, excessive consumption of protein, fats, alcohol, and also during strong physical exertion.

This video will tell you in detail about the features of the treatment of dysbacteriosis:

Treatment Methods

During treatment, you must follow the right diet. It is very harmful to overeat, drink alcohol, fatty meat, spicy and fried foods. It is also necessary to consult a doctor. As a treatment, agents are used to restore digestion.

If during the tests it was revealed the presence of infection in the feces, then antibiotics are prescribed. In case of poisoning, drugs are prescribed that remove intoxication. If there is no infection, then correction of nutrition and the use of vitamins are sufficient for therapy. The general principles of treatment are presented in the table.

Offensive and putrid odor in adult stools. Causes of a change in the aroma of stool in an infant

An important indicator that helps diagnose intestinal diseases is the smell of feces. It can be affected by pathogenic microorganisms that cause food to rot. Normally, the smell should be unpleasant, but not sharp. If it is sour or rotten, it strongly gives off ammonia, bleach, bitterness - this indicates violations in the digestive tract.

Reasons for change

The smell of feces depends on the food consumed. If a person eats a lot of meat, then the excrement smells more strongly. The aroma weakens when the daily diet includes a lot of plant foods, dairy products, milk. The use of fish, garlic, onions, kvass can affect the smell. With diarrhea, the stool smells more pronounced, but with constipation, the aroma is practically absent.

Why does the smell change? This is influenced by microorganisms that live in the intestines. In case of 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 enhances the process of food decay.

This can be caused by the following factors:

food allergies;
dyspepsia;
colitis;
liver disease;
enteropathy;
rotavirus or "intestinal flu";
dysbacteriosis;
inflammation.

In a healthy person, stools have an odor, while it does not give off rot. Defecation should be painless. It is unacceptable that the stool be liquid and have blood, mucus, pus in its composition. The color of the feces should not change much: they are normally brown in both men and women.

What changes does the specific aroma of the stool indicate?

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

The putrid and pungent smell of feces can manifest itself in diseases of the stomach associated with the use of a large number of foods containing protein.

If he gives something sour, this may indicate problems with digestion. This happens sometimes after eating carbohydrate foods, as well as drinks made using the fermentation process.

When the feces smell 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 hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide poisoning.

A stool that smells of vinegar, ammonia, rubber, ammonia, has a chemical aroma, is an indicator of the growth of bacterial colonies in the body. Ammonia odor is manifested by improper breakdown and absorption of nitrogen. Sweetish - may appear when infected with cholera.

When feces smell like acetone, we are talking about the possible development of diabetes, improper nutrition (starvation, eating a large amount of protein foods, fats, lack of carbohydrates), heavy physical exertion, alcohol abuse.

If children's feces give off 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.

The sour smell of feces in infants does not always indicate a serious problem. Sometimes this is provoked by a banal indigestion in a baby. This can manifest itself both in a child on HB (breastfeeding), and when feeding with artificial mixtures. Mixed feeding can also affect this, after the introduction of complementary foods to the baby for up to a year.

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

What to do if the child's feces are completely odorless? There is no need to panic because of this. For example, for a newborn, this is quite a normal phenomenon that occurs in the first 2-3 days of his life. First-born feces (meconium) are dark green or tar-colored and do not smell at all. Babies' stools also do not have a characteristic odor after long-term use of antibiotics.

Change in stool in adults

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

The most common cause of a strong and strange odor is changes in the intestinal microflora. A sour smell can appear when eating a large amount of plant foods. Feces begin to stink of rot with a lack or complete absence of digestive enzymes in the intestines. Excrement, giving off glue, can be observed in dysentery. The appearance of an abnormal odor may be accompanied by bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, flatulence. With these symptoms, it is important to make an appointment with a doctor to find out the cause.

Diagnostics and tests

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

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

Prevention and nutrition

If poor digestion is the cause of the strange smell of stool, the patient will have to follow a special diet. Smoked foods, fatty meats, spices and spicy sauces should be removed from the diet. Another important condition is the complete rejection of alcohol.

Taking antibiotics will help clear the infection. With food administration, drugs are prescribed that can relieve intoxication. If the infection has not been detected, then the patient will be enough to eat properly and take vitamins.

In order to prevent problems with digestion and defecation, it is important to properly process food. The meat should be thermally exposed, the vegetables should be washed well. It is necessary to drink enough pure water per day. It is best to exclude soda and freshly squeezed juices from the diet. The work of the digestive system improves physical activity, so do not forget about daily exercises that can be done at home.

What does the smell of feces in a child indicate?

Noticing changes in various parameters of the child's stool, parents can respond to the disease in time and help the baby cope with the malaise faster. One of the characteristics of feces, with which you can notice that something is wrong with the baby, is the smell of the stool. How is it normal and how can it change with diseases?

Why is he so important?

The smell of feces is given by the decay products of the food that the child has consumed, its appearance is associated with the presence of indole, hydrogen sulfide, phenol, methane and skatole. Knowing how the baby's feces should smell normally, it will be easier for parents to determine if something unpleasant has happened to the digestive processes in the small tummy.

What should be normal?

The first feces that babies excrete immediately after birth (meconium) is odorless. You can only find out that the baby pooped if you look into the diaper. But already from the third day of life, the baby's feces begin to change, acquiring color and smell, depending on the type of feeding.

In children who are breastfed, it is normally sour. In formula-fed babies, it is sharper. At the same time, the presence of a putrid odor in the feces of artificial children is considered the norm. In older children, it is not sharp.

Read more about normal baby stools in another article.

Disturbing odors

Sour

The acquisition of a sour odor by the child's feces is characteristic of fermentative dyspepsia. It is manifested by diarrhea, rumbling in the abdomen, bloating. It is also expressed in liquefied greenish feces, similar to foam, can tell parents and the doctor that the baby has problems digesting milk sugar.

Offensive sharp, strong

Feces can acquire such a smell with problems with the pancreas (if its function is impaired due to pancreatitis) and with hypersecretion of the large intestine.

It is unpleasant in a baby who has begun to be fed complementary foods containing gluten, it may be a symptom of celiac disease. Also, foul-smelling stools can be a manifestation of problems with the flow of bile into the intestines caused by cholecystitis.

putrid, unpleasant

Its presence may indicate:

Colitis.
Putrid dyspepsia.
Disturbances in the motor function of the intestine.
Impaired digestion of food in the stomach.
Dysbacteriosis.

Sour-smelling feces: causes, treatment, prevention

Causes

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

Important! If the diarrhea is odorous, you need to see a doctor. Smelly diarrhea is often accompanied by abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, flatulence, and fever. All of these conditions can be extremely dangerous.

What does feces smell like?

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

Treatment

On a note! Diarrhea in an adult is treated with medicines that fix the stool. Infection is indicated by strongly fetid 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 handle foods properly when preparing food.

Daily exercise and walks in the fresh air contribute to health. Motor activity stabilizes the digestive system and improves organ peristalsis. The food that enters the body is absorbed much faster.

Jumper flip flops

Sometimes the smell of feces can resemble the smell of rotten eggs - but this phenomenon is also considered the norm. Intestinal infections can also be accompanied by an unpleasant smell of feces. Fetid stools have an unusually strong, putrid odor. In many cases, foul-smelling stools are due to the foods you eat and the bacteria that have colonized your large intestine. For people in the postoperative period, diarrhea with a sour smell is familiar.

So, with secretions similar to rice cereal with a clear smell of rotten fish, cholera can be detected. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat and using the toilet. Porridges, low-fat broth are recommended for use, boiled meat is ideal for chicken, it is better to refuse pork, veal.

The smell of feces in infants, as one of the indicators of a child's health

If diarrhea with the smell of rotten eggs and small blood clots are present, then dysentery may be the cause. Do not cook meat and vegetables on the same cutting board. Cooking them on the same board can lead to contamination of vegetables with salmonella or other bacteria. Foul-smelling stools can occur after a course of antibiotics and persist until the normal bacterial flora of the intestine is restored.

If you are allergic to ingredients, nutritional supplements, then taking some multivitamins can also lead to foul-smelling stools.

Fish-smelling diarrhea is often a sign of salmunelosis.

Often, diarrhea itself, and with it a putrid smell, disappears when foods rich in protein and fiber are excluded from the diet.

They can be caused by eating foods rich in fiber.

In each of these cases, pungent diarrhea has particular notes, frequency, color, and many other concomitant factors.

In some cases, diarrhea in a child with an odor may appear after eating poor-quality foods or unripe fruits.

The small stool now had a little mucus alone. Stool colors. Sorry for the details, and the rotten egg smell. Today I gave her some baby yogurt. The prognosis for health depends on what caused the foul-smelling stool. Most conditions that cause bad-smelling stools are treatable. Bad-smelling stools can be a sign of a serious illness. Often the cause of bad-smelling stool is a change in your diet.

But foul-smelling feces can also indicate serious health problems.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, then the reaction to certain foods is manifested by fetid diarrhea or constipation, flatulence.

Another common cause is a chronic disorder of digestion, absorption and transport in the small intestine (malabsorption).

In most cases, odorous diarrhea is a clear indication of an exacerbation of chronic diseases or intestinal infections.

But the sour smell can cause nausea and even vomiting. Some medicines can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Frequent bowel movements can occur up to 15 times a day. It is preceded by severe pain in the abdomen.

What should be normal?

A friend recommended this Primadophilus. I bought it, and already on the third day we had a good formed stool, without any mucus, etc., once a day I began to poop stably. The chair is restored quite quickly. Appeal to a specialist and the delivery of all tests is required. But if such a phenomenon is accompanied by loose stools, foam or other abnormalities, then this is a reason to be wary.

But along with this, the color of the stool may turn green, and the baby himself will change in behavior.

To, so to speak, alleviate the situation.

In this case, the mother should change her breast as little as possible. After all, as many mothers do, they give their child first one breast, when he sucks out all the foremilk, they immediately offer him a second one.

If the area around the anus turns red, the baby is restless and constantly crying, then he does not have enough hind milk.

In fact, any caring mother will be able to distinguish a pathology from a normal phenomenon.

But that's just how it seems.

For a whole month the doctors could not stop our diarrhea with mucus, they also pooped a lot, little by little, the whole butt got spoiled, the doctors prescribed three different courses of treatment, nothing helped. It is advisable to carry out the correct treatment prescribed by a specialist in order to effectively combat this symptom. Treatment of these diseases should take place under the strict supervision of a physician. Otherwise, very adverse consequences may occur.

In this case, inflammation in the large intestine has been going on for a long time and has worsened under the influence of external factors.

The child needs to normalize the drinking regimen, and only a pediatrician will tell you what to do next.

Why does stool smell change?

It is important to correctly understand the changes in the smell of feces in various pathologies, which will allow timely diagnosis and proper treatment of the disease.

The most common cause of increased stool odor is a violation of the activity of the intestinal microflora, as well as a lack of digestive enzymes. In this case, putrefactive processes occur in the intestines, which is manifested by the characteristic smell of hydrogen sulfide.
With difficult digestion of plant foods rich in fiber, a pathological condition such as fermentative dyspepsia may occur, in which the sour smell of stool attracts attention.
Insufficient function of the pancreas is manifested by a lack of digestive enzymes, up to their complete absence. In this case, processes of putrefactive decay of undigested food are observed in the intestines, as evidenced by the characteristic putrid smell of feces.

smelly feces

Fetid stools are stools with a very foul odor. As a rule, this is due to the food that the patient consumes, but it can also be a sign of the disease.

Causes of bad stools

cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis);

Short bowel syndrome.

Diagnosis and treatment

Black or pale stools;

Changes in stool related to diet;

High body temperature;

The attending physician will perform a diagnostic examination and may ask the patient the following questions about their medical history:

When the patient first noticed that his stool had become offensive;

Whether the color of the stool is normal or not (pale or clay);

Is it difficult to flush this stool;

What diets the patient has recently used;

Changes in the diet of the patient worsened or improved the smell of the stool;

What other symptoms does the patient have?

The doctor may take a stool sample. Other tests may also be needed.

Feces (feces) is a formed mass consisting of human waste, undigested particles, enzymes, bile components and various bacteria that live on the epithelial lining of the intestine and take part in the formation of immunity. Normally, feces should have a light brown color, the shape of a dense sausage and a mild characteristic odor. If the feces in an adult become foul-smelling, in some cases this is due to dietary habits. Correction of the diet should help solve the problem, but if this does not happen, you should consult a doctor and exclude pathologies of the digestive and excretory systems.

Bad smell of feces in an adult

What foods can cause a strong odor?

Onions and garlic provoke rotting processes in the body

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

contain a large number of chemical additives (stabilizers, flavor enhancers, flavors, preservatives);
stored in unsuitable temperature or hygienic conditions;
contain traces of packaging violations (swollen and dented cans, leaky bags, etc.).

Note! If, along with a strong smell of feces, the patient develops other symptoms, such as vomiting, fever, or cramping pain in the lower abdomen, food poisoning (poisoning) is the most likely cause.

Signs of food poisoning

The smell of feces has changed: possible causes

Violation of microflora

The main symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis in an adult

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

Additional signs of dysbacteriosis

Fermented milk bioproduct Narine

food allergy

Allergies to certain foods can also cause the sudden onset of a strong odor from human stool. The most common food allergens are:

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

Food allergy symptoms

Changes in feces with food allergies

Lack of enzymes

Fermentopathy in adults

Fetid feces with fever

Powder for solution preparation Regidron

Further treatment is carried out using the following drugs:

antidiarrheals ("Lopedium", "Diara", "Loperamide");
drugs of central action to stop vomiting ("Cerukal");
antimicrobial drugs with a wide spectrum of action ("Nifuroxazid", "Enterofuril");
probiotics and prebiotics for colonizing the intestines with beneficial bacteria and restoring 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 shown a sparing diet that excludes dairy products, chips and crackers with flavors, fatty, spicy and fried foods.

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

Signs of gastrointestinal infections

Pungent smell of feces in diseases of the intestine

What does the color of stool mean?

Inflammation of the intestines (colitis and enteritis)

Signs of chronic colitis or enteritis are:

painful intestinal spasms, accompanied by bloating and flatulence;
bursting and pressure in the central or lower abdomen;
nausea (rarely - vomiting);
unpleasant, pungent odor from excrement;
stool disorders.

Intestinal condition in colitis

Methyluracil tablets

intestinal candidiasis

Symptoms of intestinal candidiasis

lack of appetite that occurs against the background of moderate nausea (in rare cases, a single vomiting is possible as signs of intoxication of the body);
itching in the anal ring during bowel movements;
rumbling in the stomach;
intestinal spasms;
flatulence;
flutulence syndrome ("explosive" discharge of a large amount of odorous gases).

The development of intestinal candidiasis

Treatment of candidiasis is carried out with the help of antifungal drugs (in oral dosage form). Their list is shown in the table below.

Antimycotics for the treatment of thrush in the intestines in adults

Sour-smelling feces: causes, treatment, prevention

Causes

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

What does feces smell like?

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

Treatment

Prevention

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

Daily exercise and walks in the fresh air contribute to health. Motor activity stabilizes the digestive system and improves organ peristalsis. The food that enters the body is absorbed much faster.

Signs of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: when the smell of stool is especially unpleasant

Let's be honest. Even healthy stool always smells not very pleasant. But if you notice that the smell in the toilet is more pungent than usual, this may be a sign that something is wrong in the body.

According to MD, gastroenterologist Larry Good, the specific smell of discharge in the toilet after a bowel movement always depends on two factors:

what do you eat;
what type of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract) prevails now.

Billions of microorganisms live in the human gastrointestinal tract. The smell of feces is formed due to gases that are produced in the intestines when indigestible fiber is broken down enzymatically. So if your stool smells too strong for a few days, don't worry, it might be related to the foods you've been eating lately.

But what to do if the smell of the stool remains too unpleasant and intense for a long time? Then it is worth talking first of all with a gastroenterologist.

Related symptoms:

This is especially important if, according to your observations, the consistency of the bowel movements has also changed. It can be a sign of many gastrointestinal disorders, including:

Clostridial infection (or gas gangrene) is an infection caused by spore-forming anaerobes (clostridium).

Related diseases:

You may not be very encouraged by the prospect of sharing your observations with your doctor about your stool. But don't let that discourage you! The fact is that doctors have experienced such symptoms before meeting with you. Moreover, this information at the moment is personally related to your well-being and condition. Therefore, you have a good opportunity to improve your health, and then the intestines will work flawlessly.

Immunology and Biochemistry

Fetid feces

What causes bad odor in stool?

Causes of bad stools

Common Causes of Malabsorption

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

A common symptom of malabsorption is fetid diarrhea.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, then the reaction to certain foods is manifested by fetid diarrhea or constipation, flatulence. Gases can 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 medicines can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. If you are allergic to ingredients, nutritional supplements, then taking some multivitamins can also lead to foul-smelling stools. Foul-smelling stools can occur after a course of antibiotics and persist until the normal bacterial flora of the intestine is restored.
Fetid diarrhea can be a side effect of an overdose of multivitamins or 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 smelly stools include chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and short bowel syndrome (surgical removal of part of the small intestine that interferes with absorption of nutrients).

Signs of bad-smelling stool

Symptoms that may be associated with smelly stools include:

Bad-smelling stools can 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 smelly feces diagnosed?

Bad stool is diagnosed by a doctor after you answer questions about your stool, such as

consistency
when did you first notice the bad smell
how frequent are the urges
what has changed in your diet (take a good look at what you ate before your stool became smelly), foods you recently started eating.

Prevention

Strong smell of feces, why?

To begin with, I’ll say that, Thank God, I feel great, I have a healthy appetite, I eat well, I don’t smoke, I don’t abuse hard liquor ..

But there is a certain flaw that my family really doesn’t like and they are very indignant about this,. in short, I’ll say it like it is .. when I go to the toilet for the most part, after me it’s not possible to go to the toilet for a long time, because, according to my Mom, after me there is a surprisingly rare pungent stinky smell that hurts my eyes and twists my gut ..

It seems that all people go to the toilet, such is nature, this is how we are arranged, everyone has their own unpleasant odors during the bowel movement .. but for some reason my smell is not the same as everyone else's, it is very strange and very fetid.

Don't take this as a joke or anything like that! I ask in all seriousness, I need a serious answer from a person who is close to medicine and understands what he is saying. I need an advice,

You will wash all the useful substances from the body!

Try switching to a plant-based diet.

Maybe something will change.

Offensive and putrid odor in adult stools. Causes of a change in the aroma of stool in an infant

Reasons for change

This can be caused by the following factors:

food allergies;
dyspepsia;
colitis;
liver disease;
enteropathy;
rotavirus or "intestinal flu";
dysbacteriosis;
inflammation.

What changes does the specific aroma of the stool indicate?

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

The putrid and pungent smell of feces can manifest itself in diseases of the stomach associated with the use of a large number of foods containing protein.

If he gives something sour, this may indicate problems with digestion. This happens sometimes after eating carbohydrate foods, as well as drinks made using the fermentation process.

When the feces smell 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 hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide poisoning.

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

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

Change in stool in adults

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

Diagnostics and tests

Prevention and nutrition

The smell of feces or why do poop stink?

Each of us will be able to distinguish the smell of shit from any other. It's in our genetics. True, today people do not attach much importance to it. Modern man only strives to get rid of it, using air fresheners while shitting, so as not to stink. But the smell of feces can carry a lot of valuable information for us. You yourself probably noticed that it is not always the same and for each person it may differ in one direction or another. One person's shit stinks terribly, while another's poop has a much lower concentration of acrid stench. Also, the smell of feces differs not only in the strength of the stench, but also in other indicators, it can have sourness, rottenness, or some other additional aroma in its palette of smells. Returning to the information that the stink of poop conveys - our feces are a kind of marker, which is one of the first to warn us of almost all changes in our body. Thus, a change in the color, shape, consistency, and also the smell of feces can indicate the presence of some kind of ailment that has settled in the human body or a violation in the work of a certain organ. Therefore, dear reader, do not underestimate the feces and their smell. After all, not every medicine has a pleasant smell and taste, right?

Did you know that our ancestors used feces very actively in their life. With the help of the color and smell of feces and urine, ancient people determined the state of health of their neighbor, thus, when an illness was detected, they sought to attack him in order to take him by surprise and give themselves an advantage in battle.

Why does shit stink?

Well, first of all, let's look at the question of why feces stink, where does it get its characteristic smell from? To do this, we need to dive into the bowels of our intestines and find out what kind of processes are going on there. After all, as we all know, feces are nothing more than overcooked food that we ate for lunch. But it seemed that fried potatoes with chop smelled quite appetizing. What could have distorted their smell so much?

The fact is that when passing through the links of the digestive chain, food is broken down into simpler components and at each of the stages there is a splitting of various kinds of substances contained in food. The intestines are inhabited by many different bacteria that are involved in the process of digestion. During their life, gases are released. Which, in the process of forming feces, are mixed with poop, making it porous. The gases contained in the intestines are divided into 2 types: inert and caustic (the so-called fecal gases, which just stink).

Thanks to the formation of inert gases, we fart, and fecal gases give poop and farts, including the corresponding fetid smell. The inert gas mixes with the faecal matter and fills the cavities in the stool and therefore the shit stinks when we vomit it.

Also, depending on the concentration of fecal gas, the intensity of the stink of poop can also depend.

How can shit smell?

It is worth noting that any poop stinks, but within the normal range. That is, healthy feces certainly have an unpleasant odor, but it should not be sharp. So to speak, the bias of stench aromas in one direction or another, of course, also depends on the type of food consumed. Since this, in turn, affects the processes and nature of fermentation and decay of digested food. So, for example, meat food gives a sharper smell, and dairy, in turn, sour. With constipation, a putrid odor appears, as food stagnates in the intestines and begins to rot. And with poor absorption of nutrients, they become food for pathogenic bacteria, which leads to their development and the appearance of a characteristic deviation in the smell of feces.

As you can see, the palette of smells of shit is quite wide, and if you find a deviation in the smell of your feces, pay attention to this and consult a doctor. Perhaps this is a call that calls you to respond and provide medical care to the body or make adjustments to your lifestyle to maintain health.

There are several types of shit stench:

Sour - sour stench shit acquires with excessive use of sugar, flour products, fruits, peas, etc., foods that are rich in carbohydrates, a large amount of which can cause fermentative dyspepsia.
The fetid smell of feces - quite often the cause of stench from feces is pancreatitis - a violation of the functions of the pancreas. Also, the cause may be a lack of bile secretion, intestinal hypersecretion (increased secretion of mucus).
The putrid smell of shit - this type of feces aroma is acquired when digestion is disturbed in the stomach. It can occur with excessive consumption of protein foods, which are slowly digested and begin to rot.
The oily smell of feces - occurs during the bacterial decomposition of fats.

Prevention of stinky poop

To reduce the risk of diseases, a symptom of which is foul-smelling poop, it is enough to follow simple rules, and they consist in a diet. If the strong stink of shit is caused by a reaction to food, then you need to adjust your diet, the doctor will help you with this. Also follow the rules for cooking meat products and their neighborhood on the shelves of the refrigerator. Do not cook meat and vegetables on the same cutting board, otherwise the vegetables may be contaminated with salmonella and other bacteria that lead to bacterial infections in the intestines.

Sometimes fetid feces can mean not just a strong stink from your poop, but be a diagnosis that a doctor will make. Pay enough attention to your poop and its properties, including stench. If the smell of feces has suddenly changed dramatically in you and this continues for a long time, then this may indicate a violation in the functioning of your body. If other symptoms have been added to the stench of feces, then this is already a significant reason to consult a doctor in order to undergo examinations and, if necessary, receive timely treatment.

With you Kakasich, we hope we were able to provide you with a small portion of useful information about poop.

Thank you for your support, Kakasich appreciates your help.

Smell of feces

A fetid odor occurs when the secretion of the pancreas is impaired, in the absence of bile flow into the digestive tract.

A weak smell occurs with constipation, indigestion, accelerated evacuation from the small intestine.

Frequent urge to defecate, accompanied by the release of liquid feces with an unpleasant odor and impurities, indicate the presence of a serious malfunction of the internal organs, provoked by infection, overeating, an allergic reaction, an imbalance in the intestinal microflora, poisoning, exacerbation of chronic diseases or inflammation. Unfortunately, most people prefer self-treatment to a doctor, which often leads to a deterioration in well-being: in addition to diarrhea and diarrhea, a person begins to suffer from pain and pain in the stomach and rectum, nausea turning into vomiting, lack of appetite, flatulence, bloating. Against the background of digestive problems, incessant diarrhea and vomiting, the victim may develop dehydration - a life-threatening and health condition that can lead to death. However, do not panic: you can prevent the development of complications by observing the following rules:

1 If loose stools, diarrhea with a pungent odor occur, you should consult a doctor. If the condition does not allow you to get to the hospital on your own, you should call an ambulance. If diarrhea has opened in a child, you should not waste time on the road to the clinic: you need to call a doctor at home. Children under the age of one year can die from dehydration within twelve hours from the moment the liquid stool appears, so you should not take risks: parents are not able to provide qualified assistance to the baby, only a specialist can do it.

2 In the presence of diarrhea and vomiting, it is necessary to drink a glass of salted water or a solution of "Rehydron" / "Electrolyte" every half an hour: the liquid will make up for the lack of nutrients and restore the balance of moisture in the body.

3 To speed up the recovery process after severe diarrhea, you must follow all the recommendations of your doctor: if the specialist has prescribed not only taking medications, but also dieting, you should limit the consumption of foods included in the prohibited list. Refusal of a therapeutic diet for diarrhea threatens to turn into another attack of diarrhea, so do not neglect the advice of a doctor.

Causes of loose stools, diarrhea with a pungent odor

Provoke loose stools with a pungent odor and impurities can:

1 chemical/nicotine/alcohol/food poisoning;

2 overdose of highly effective drugs can cause severe diarrhea;

4 inflammatory or tumor process in the internal organs;

5 overeating (frequent consumption of food in large quantities negatively affects, first of all, the condition of the stomach and pancreas);

6 an allergic reaction to food can cause severe diarrhea and foul-smelling stools;

7 imbalance of intestinal microflora;

8 exacerbation of chronic diseases of internal organs;

9 increased motility (peristalsis) of the intestine often leads to diarrhea;

10 enzyme deficiency;

11 abuse of fast food, smoked meats, canned food, semi-finished products, sweets, rich pastries, spicy / sour / hot sauces;

12 frequent consumption of raw vegetables, fruits and berries (coarse fiber contained in fruits irritates the walls of the digestive tract and increases their peristalsis, which leads to diarrhea with a pungent odor and mucus interspersed with semi-digested food particles);

13 stress can cause nervous diarrhea, severe diarrhea: a nervous situation at work or at home can provoke nervous diarrhea or "bear disease" - an unbearable urge to defecate, accompanied by the release of liquid stools of a normal shade with a familiar smell.

Symptoms and signs of diarrhea

The diagnosis of diarrhea implies the presence of frequent urge to defecate, accompanied by the release of liquid feces of various shades with a sharp, chemical or putrid odor. Diarrhea is often accompanied by spasms and pain in the intestinal area, fever, vomiting, flatulence.

The impending "catastrophe" can be judged by the following signs:

1 bloating;

2 rumbling, gurgling, murmuring sounds that accompany the process of digestion;

3 heaviness in the stomach;

4 drawing pain in the intestines;

5 increased gas formation;

6 weakness, lethargy, drowsiness;

8 nausea.

As a rule, diarrhea opens within an hour after the onset of these symptoms. The frequency of the urge to defecate can reach fifteen times a day. Naturally, in such a scenario, there can be no talk of any work activity and social activity: until the victim’s condition stabilizes, he is forbidden to leave the home in order to avoid deterioration of health.

Types of diarrhea, what is diarrhea?

Experts distinguish between two forms of diarrhea:

1 Acute diarrhea: occurs as a result of the ingestion of toxic substances or infectious agents and leads to instant dehydration of the body.

2 Chronic diarrhea: occurs against the background of a malfunction in the digestive system, endocrine diseases and circulatory problems. It can last for two to three weeks, gradually depleting the body of the victim.

Only a doctor can cope with both acute and chronic diarrhea in the shortest possible time: self-medication can lead to a worsening of the situation, so it is better to refuse it.

Causes of smelly, fetid diarrhea, why did a pungent smell appear from loose stools?

Diarrhea is a violation of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, which are accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the form of bloating and flatulence. In cases of prolonged pronounced diarrhea, an urgent need to consult a doctor. Based on the nature of loose stools, it is possible to determine the disease that provoked it. By color, blood inclusions, mucus and smell, diseases of bacterial and non-bacterial origin are distinguished. There are a number of pathologies, accompanied by very strong diarrhea with a fetid odor.

The most common underlying causes of foul-smelling diarrhea are caused by:

1 Dysbacteriosis of the gastrointestinal tract. Quite often, indigestion occurs due to the use of antibacterial drugs.

2 The defeat of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract of a viral nature. At the same time, liquid stools have a very unpleasant, smelly smell. These include rotavirus infection.

3 Viral infection of simple origin. Symptoms are foul-smelling stools that are liquid in form.

4 Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract (the so-called enteritis). In cases of colitis attacks, there is a smell of rot and musty eggs.

5 Eating unprocessed, unwashed or poor quality food. Most often, in such situations, the child's body is more susceptible to diarrhea. This is due to the fact that children do not have such a highly developed immune system than adults.

6 Dysentery, which is manifested by defecation in the form of diarrhea with a rotten smell of eggs.

7 Allergic to certain foods.

8 Chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines.

9 Violation in the daily diet of the baby. The appearance of the smell of rot in diarrhea is associated with insufficient consumption of foods containing fiber and protein.

10 Salmonellosis or cholera. In this case, liquid stools will have a fishy smell.

11 Hepatitis A of viral origin.

Prevention of diarrhea, how to get rid of frequent diarrhea?

Not everyone knows how to prevent diarrhea, what to do so that diarrhea does not appear again? To prevent the appearance of loose stools with an unpleasant odor and impurities, the following rules will help:

1 Wash your hands thoroughly after visiting the restroom, street, counting money: a huge amount of bacteria settles on the skin, which, once in the body, can cause diseases such as dysentery, salmonellosis, helminthiasis and giardiasis.

2 When choosing products, pay attention, first of all, to their expiration date and composition. Various flavors, preservatives, color fixatives can provoke an allergic reaction and poisoning, so give preference to natural products: their shelf life rarely exceeds a week, which has its advantages - gentle processing allows you to save the maximum of useful properties.

Treatment of diarrhea involves following a diet and taking medications prescribed by a doctor based on the results of the following tests:

1 coprogram (determination of the composition of feces);

2 ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs;

3 analysis of feces for dysbacteriosis;

4 complete blood count;

5 blood test for hepatitis virus.

It is necessary to take medicines and tablets prescribed by a specialist for the treatment of diarrhea with an unpleasant odor in strict accordance with the instructions: exceeding the permissible dosage can provoke a relapse. For the duration of treatment, it is necessary to abandon products that have an additional burden on the body: alcohol, sweets, pastries, freshly squeezed and ready-made juices, pork, beef, duck, goose, lamb, veal, spices, fatty fish, sausages and sausages, canned food, tea and coffee, fresh vegetables and fruits, with the exception of persimmons and bananas. Chicken, rabbit, turkey, dry biscuits, jelly, dried white bread, boiled or baked vegetables and fruits, cereals on water with milk, dried fruit compote, lean soups, natural yogurt without additives in the form of fruits and berries will help restore the functioning of internal organs . Vitamins and probiotics can be prescribed as a supportive agent: they must also be taken in accordance with the instructions, otherwise a re-disorder of the stool is possible.

Loose stools, diarrhea with a smell of rotten eggs or rot, causes

Loose stools with the smell of rotten eggs or rotten signals the presence of an infection or inflammation in the internal organs, in particular the intestines. Diarrhea in this case is often accompanied by vomiting and fever. With vomit and feces, the body loses a huge amount of fluid: you can make up for its lack by using a solution of Regidron or ordinary, slightly salted, water. You need to drink little by little, but often: if you drink too much liquid at a time, a gag reflex may occur.

Loose stools, diarrhea mixed with mucus, causes

Loose stools with a pungent odor and an admixture of mucus occur against the background of an intestinal infection or flu transferred to the legs. A person is not able to cope with diarrhea provoked by the causative agents of these diseases on his own: only a doctor can help him.

Loose stools, diarrhea mixed with blood, causes, what to do?

Loose stools with an admixture of fresh or clotted blood is an indication for urgent hospitalization: it is impossible to determine the cause of such a deviation without the use of special diagnostic methods. A tumor process in the organs of the digestive system, erosive gastritis, an open gastric or duodenal ulcer, intestinal infection, damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract by a foreign body swallowed with food, and many other factors that can be identified and eliminated can provoke diarrhea with an admixture of blood. only a qualified person. If the feces with diarrhea contain blood, obvious scarlet blotches or diarrhea with black feces from already coagulated blood, it is imperative to seek help and establish an accurate diagnosis from a doctor. And if diarrhea with blood is accompanied by a severe loss of strength, if a person is sleepy, he has signs of loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, high body temperature, then with a combination of even a few of these symptoms, it is necessary to call emergency medical care.

What diseases can be if the feces stink strongly with diarrhea?

In order to determine what is bothering you, you first need to diagnose the whole body and establish the correct diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor! He will also prescribe an effective effective treatment regimen. Self-treatment is strictly prohibited! Rotavirus infection is one possible reason for a baby to have foul-smelling liquid stools with the presence of a sour smell. The feces will be yellowish or greenish in color. In addition to the terrible smell and color of feces, rotavirus infection is associated with pain in the abdomen and the urge to vomit. There is also an increased body temperature, the appearance of a runny nose and tearing. Confirmation of the diagnosis is the isolation of a viral infection from the feces.

A hallmark of dysentery is the appearance of pain in the abdomen, and then the appearance of an upset gastrointestinal tract in the form of diarrhea and the smell of eggs. In the feces, impurities of mucous secretions and blood inclusions can be distinguished. Sometimes diarrhea is very similar to spitting. The frequency of emptying the stomach reaches more than twenty times a day. In order to accurately establish the disease, the patient must do a fecal analysis for bacterial culture. Cholera is characterized by diarrhea with a fishy odor. In appearance, fecal discharge is similar to a decoction of rice. Along with watery feces, there is an urge to nausea and a gag reflex, signs of poisoning (intoxication) of the body and its dehydration. In case of detection of diarrhea similar to rice water, it is urgently necessary to do a bacterial culture of feces.

When a baby is poisoned with food, there is a strong watery diarrhea that has a rather unpleasant odor (sometimes an unpleasant odor may be absent). Diarrhea can appear about ten times a day. At the same time, there is nausea and a gag reflex associated with pain in the center of the abdomen (near-umbilical region). For diagnosis, it is necessary to determine which product is the causative agent of poisoning. In most cases, poisoning occurs with pastries and cakes containing custard.

Loose stools with the smell of rotten food with allergies to food quite often appear accompanied by other allergic symptoms, for example, a rash. In order to determine the allergen, diagnostics are carried out by taking allergy tests. Colitis, enteritis, enterocolitis, which are accompanied by liquid fecal masses with a fetid odor, are determined by diagnostics using a coprogram, rectoscopy, colonoscopy, X-ray.

The standard diagnosis of all pathologies associated with the appearance of diarrhea with a rather unpleasant odor consists of:

1 Determining the factors that contributed to the appearance of stinking diarrhea and collecting an anamnesis of abnormalities.

2 Primary examination and palpation of the abdomen.

3 General blood test study. A complete blood count is a mandatory analysis, regardless of the type of disease. With the help of KLA, it is possible to determine whether there is an acute inflammatory process in the human body.