ENLmedical.com: Conditions And Concerns: Medical Encyclopedia

Stools - foul smelling

Considerations:
Stool normally has an unpleasant odor but one that is recognized as fairly common. Stools that have an extremely bad, out of the ordinary odor, may be associated with certain medical conditions. Foul-smelling stools also have normal causes, most notably diet.

Foul smelling stools may occur in conjunction with floating stools .

Common Causes:

cystic fibrosis
gluten-induced enteropathy ( sprue , celiac disease )
idiopathic steatorrhea (fatty stools with no known cause)
disaccharidase deficiency (insufficient amounts of the sugar-digesting enzymes lactase, sucrase, or isomaltase)
short bowel syndrome
biliary atresia
Crohns disease
ulcerative colitis
infections of the colon (certain types)
HUS ( hemolytic-uremic syndrome )

Note: There may be other causes of foul-smelling stools. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for foul-smelling stools, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
Home care depends on the specific diagnosis. Follow your health care provider's instructions closely, and adhere strictly to prescribed diets.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:

foul-smelling stools develop.

What to Expect:
Foul-smelling stools are a single symptom of a disease complex. Other symptoms and signs are generally present. Your health care provider will take a family and disease history, then complete a physical examination .

Medical history questions may include:

When did you first notice that the stools were foul-smelling?
Are the stools an abnormal color (especially pale or clay-colored stools )?
Are there floating stools ?
What sort of diet has been eaten recently?
Does a change in the diet make the smell worse or better?
What other symptoms are present?

A stool sample will be obtained for laboratory analysis. Other laboratory studies may be indicated.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to foul-smelling stools to your personal medical record.