Kamil Perry
Foul-smelling stool can be caused by various factors, including diet, infections, allergies, and underlying medical conditions. While diet is the most common cause of bad-smelling stool, it can sometimes indicate a health issue, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or cystic fibrosis. Certain foods, such as sulfur-containing foods like meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and alcohol, can also cause a foul smell. Additionally, taking antibiotics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, leading to temporary stomach upset and smelly stool. If the foul odor is accompanied by unusual symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor for further evaluation.
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What You'll Learn
Diet and digestion
Diet is the most common cause of bad-smelling stool. The foods that people eat can cause their poop to smell worse. For instance, a high-protein or high-fat diet that includes a lot of meat and cheese can cause the smell of poop to intensify. This is because the body produces more smelly gases the longer the stool sits in the colon without being eliminated.
Sulfur-rich foods such as meat, cheese, eggs, and cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are harder to digest than other foods, so the gut has to work harder to process them. This can result in the production of more foul-smelling stool.
Food allergies or intolerances can also cause smelly poop. For example, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, and celiac disease can all lead to foul-smelling stool. In these cases, the body struggles to digest certain nutrients, leading to a buildup of indigestible substances in the intestines, which can cause a strong odor.
In addition, certain medications and supplements can contribute to smelly poop. Antibiotics, for instance, can disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut, leading to a temporary increase in bad bacteria and resulting in smelly stool.
It is important to note that while diet is a significant factor in stool odor, persistent or unusually foul-smelling poop can sometimes indicate a more serious health issue. Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infections, and colitis can all lead to changes in stool odor. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor if the bad smell is accompanied by other symptoms such as unusual stool color, blood or pus in the stool, or fever.
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Infection
Foul-smelling stools can be indicative of a gut infection. Gut infections can be viral, bacterial, or parasitic in nature, and cause the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed.
Bacterial infections, such as Salmonella and Clostridium difficile (C. diff), can cause foul-smelling diarrhea. Parasitic infections, such as Giardia, can also lead to foul-smelling stools. Infections that occur in the digestive system are common causes of smelly poop. For example, an E. coli infection can cause watery green or bright yellow poop in baby goats.
Additionally, underlying medical conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can lead to foul-smelling stools. IBD includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which can cause inflammation and changes in the gut bacteria, resulting in abnormal stool smells.
It is important to note that diet also plays a significant role in the smell of stools. Sulfur-rich foods, such as meat, cheese, eggs, and cruciferous vegetables, are harder to digest and can lead to increased gas production and more pungent-smelling stools. A high-protein or high-fat diet, with a lot of meats and cheeses, can also contribute to more intense-smelling stools.
If you are experiencing persistent foul-smelling stools, it is advisable to consult a doctor, as it may indicate an underlying health issue that requires medical attention.
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Allergies and intolerances
Foul-smelling stool can be caused by various factors, including diet, medications, underlying medical conditions, and allergies or intolerances.
Food allergies can also cause foul-smelling stool. A milk allergy, for example, triggers an immune response in the body, similar to a peanut allergy reaction. This can lead to hives, a rash, or swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. In addition, a milk allergy can cause bloody, strong-smelling stool due to immune system irritation of the gut. Goat cheese, in particular, can cause allergies due to the proteins in goat's milk, which are similar to those in cow's milk. Symptoms of a goat cheese allergy can range from mild, such as hives and itching, to severe, such as anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction.
To determine if an allergy or intolerance is causing foul-smelling stool, individuals can undergo various tests, including stool tests, blood tests, hydrogen breath tests, skin-prick tests, and oral food challenges. Consulting a healthcare professional is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
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Underlying medical conditions
Foul-smelling stool can be indicative of a serious underlying health issue, such as an infection or other medical condition. It is important to seek medical advice if the problem persists or is accompanied by other unusual symptoms.
Infections that affect the intestines, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Salmonella, E. coli, Giardiasis, and viral gastroenteritis, can cause foul-smelling stools. These infections can lead to abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Viral or bacterial infections can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, causing smelly diarrhea.
Certain underlying medical conditions can also cause foul-smelling stools. These include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which encompasses Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and can cause ongoing pain and swelling in the digestive system. Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cystic fibrosis, pancreatic conditions, and short bowel syndrome are also associated with foul-smelling stools.
Additionally, lactose intolerance, a condition where the body cannot break down lactose, a sugar commonly found in dairy, can result in foul-smelling diarrhea. This is due to the unabsorbed lactose passing through the intestine. Similarly, gluten intolerance can cause foul-smelling stools in individuals who become sick after consuming wheat, barley, or rye.
Foul-smelling stools can also be indicative of more serious conditions, such as pancreatic insufficiency, which can occur with pancreatic cancer, or iron-deficiency anemia, which is common in people with IBD.
It is important to consult a medical professional if foul-smelling stools persist or are accompanied by other symptoms such as blood in the stool, abdominal pain, or changes in stool size, color, or frequency. A doctor can conduct a physical examination, stool tests, blood tests, or breath tests to diagnose the underlying cause.
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Antibiotics
Furthermore, certain antibiotics themselves may have a distinct odour, which can be excreted through stool. This is particularly true for antibiotics that contain sulfur compounds, which can give off a rotten egg-like smell. Additionally, some antibiotics can interact with the food you eat, affecting the way it is digested and metabolised, and potentially leading to changes in the odour of your stool.
It is important to note that while changes in stool odour due to antibiotics are typically not a cause for concern, they can sometimes indicate more serious side effects or underlying health conditions. For example, if you notice blood in your stool, it may cause a metallic odour and could be a sign of internal bleeding or inflammation. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional if you have concerns or if the odour persists or is accompanied by other symptoms.
In summary, antibiotics can indeed be a contributing factor to changes in the smell of your stool. While this is usually temporary and harmless, it serves as a reminder of the significant impact that antibiotics can have on our digestive system and overall health.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common cause of bad-smelling stool is diet. Eating certain foods may also cause smelly stools if your body has trouble absorbing or digesting certain nutrients. For example, you may be lactose intolerant or gluten intolerant. However, if unusual symptoms accompany the foul odor for more than 48 hours, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Foul-smelling poop that appears pale and greasy could be a sign of pancreatic insufficiency, which can occur with pancreatic cancer. It is important to consult a doctor if the bad smell is accompanied by other symptoms such as unusual colored stool, blood or pus in the stool, or fever.
Some other causes of foul-smelling poop include infections, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, short bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Certain types of medications and supplements can also cause changes in stool odor due to the presence of added sulfites.
