What does foul smelling diarrhea mean?

Bad-smelling stool can be caused by diet, a medication, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or an infection. Monitor what you eat and treat the underlying conditions.

What causes very foul smelling diarrhea?

Giardiasis is an infection caused by a parasite called Giardia. It causes diarrhea. Symptoms include explosive, watery, greasy, foul-smelling stools, bloating, nausea, pain, gas, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Several medicines are available that cure the infection.

Is smelly diarrhea normal?

Feces normally have an unpleasant smell. Foul-smelling stools have an unusually strong, putrid smell. In many cases, foul-smelling stools occur due to the foods people eat and the bacteria present in their colon. However, foul-smelling stools can also indicate a serious health problem.

Can the smell of poop indicate illness?

In rare cases, stool smell—along with other indicating signs—can clue you in on some underlying conditions or health issues. “Sometimes if the stool smells very tar-y or very foul smelling, that could be a sign of an infection or it could be a sign of some gastrointestinal bleeding going on,” Dr.

When should I be concerned about poop smell?

Most of the time, a foul scent alone isn't indicative of anything worrisome. But if there is a change in the smell of your number two that coincides with other potentially concerning symptoms like diarrhea, fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss, it could signal something more serious, Dr. Lee says.

Got Really Smelly Poop? Here Are The Potential Reasons Why | #DeepDives | Health

What bacteria causes foul-smelling stool?

Foul-smelling stools may also be a sign of an intestinal viral, bacterial (like E. coli or Salmonella), or parasitic infection. These infections can occur after eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water (which can also happen when swimming).

Why does diarrhea smell worse than regular poop?

Certain foods, such as eggs, garlic, legumes, and dairy, are hard to digest and can cause gas. In turn, this makes your stool extra pungent. Other times, the problem may be from an abundance of bad bacteria in your gut, a viral infection, or Clostridioides difficile—a bacterium that causes diarrhea.

How many days should diarrhea last?

Treating diarrhoea

In children, diarrhoea will usually pass within 5 to 7 days and will rarely last longer than 2 weeks. In adults, diarrhoea usually improves within 2 to 4 days, although some infections can last a week or more.

What does melena smell like?

Rotten, digested, iron/metallic blood.

Why does my poop smell like rotten eggs?

Foods that are high in sulfate content such as veggies, dairy, eggs, and meat can cause poop that smells like rotten eggs. “Sulfur is a necessary component in our diet, and certain foods high in sulfates increase sulfur gas as the byproduct of foods being broken down,” he says.

How do you get rid of the smell of diarrhea?

In this case, baking soda is a great choice because it can improve the instance of odors by taking it into itself. "Sodium in baking soda is what gives the compound its ability to absorb musty and other terrible odors," says Dr. Coster.

Why does my poop smell like sewer gas?

You're Eating a Lot of Foods With Sulfur

Sulfur-containing foods include cruciferous veggies (examples are broccoli, cauliflower, and kale), dairy, eggs, and meat. But similar to how drinking alcohol or taking supplements with sulfates can make your stool smell, so can sulfur-rich foods.

What does Clostridium difficile smell like?

If you have Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection (CDI), it can result in diarrhea that has an unusual odor that some might describe as sickeningly sweet. High risk factors for CDI include being over the age of 65, having recently been hospitalized, and having finished a course of antibiotics.

Is yellow diarrhea an emergency?

Yellow stool is usually due to dietary changes or food colors. However, if the color change continues for several days or other symptoms are present, it is best to contact a doctor. A person should see a doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms with yellow stool: a fever.

Why am I pooping water?

Watery diarrhea is commonly caused by a viral infection or food poisoning from eating undercooked meat or rotten foods. It can be serious if it causes dehydration. Keep an eye out for blood in the stool, and be sure to drink water and fluids with electrolytes. Ezekiel Richardson, MD.

Why do I keep pooping yellow liquid?

Yellow liquid poop could indicate an underlying disorder in the liver or gallbladder. Bright yellow liquid stool can also be a sign of giardiasis, an infection caused by an intestinal parasite that you can get from drinking unclean water.

Can you smell a GI bleed?

Bleeding is the most common cause of gastrointestinal tract smell.

Does GI bleed stink?

The black color is caused by enzymes breaking down and digesting the blood as it moves through the GI tract. This color is often accompanied by a strong, foul odor. Associated symptoms that may be seen with melena vary depending on the amount of blood loss and the source of bleeding.

What is a GI bleed out?

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a symptom of a disorder in your digestive tract. The blood often appears in stool or vomit but isn't always visible, though it may cause the stool to look black or tarry. The level of bleeding can range from mild to severe and can be life-threatening.

Why do I have diarrhea but not sick?

A wide range of problems can cause chronic diarrhea; some of the most common causes include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis), malabsorption syndromes, like celiac disease, in which food cannot be digested and absorbed, and chronic infections as well as ...

When should you go to the ER for diarrhea?

Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration. Severe abdominal or rectal pain. Bloody or black stools.

What are the 4 types of diarrhea?

Why does diarrhea burn your bottom?

Diarrhea speeds up the digestion process, so foods often do not break down fully. This means that stomach acids, digestive enzymes, and bile may still be present in diarrhea. These can damage the tissues and cause a burning sensation in the rectum during or after a bowel movement.

What does Skatole smell like?

Skatole, or 3-methylindole, is a foul-smelling constituent of mammalian feces; it is produced by the decomposition of tryptophan in the digestive tract. It has a floral aroma at low concentrations, contributing to the pleasant smell of flowers such as jasmine and orange blossoms.

Why is diarrhea liquid?

Summary. If you or your child have watery diarrhea, there are a number of possible reasons for why. Viral infections, exposure to bacteria, tiny parasites, or even an underlying health condition, like Crohn's disease, could be to blame. Dehydration and malabsorption are main concerns with watery diarrhea.