Contents:
- Medical Video: Signs And Symptoms of Colon Cancer You Should Not Ignore
- What causes foul stools?
- 1. Malabsorption
- 2. Most foods that are high in gas
- 3. Infection
- 4. Medications and supplements
- 5. Other conditions
- Symptoms of foul-smelling stool
Medical Video: Signs And Symptoms of Colon Cancer You Should Not Ignore
Stool usually does have an unpleasant odor. This bad odor is caused by food eaten and bacteria in the intestine. However, foul-smelling faeces can also be marked by serious health problems. What causes feces can smell very unpleasant? Check out the answer here.
What causes foul stools?
Changes in diet are a common cause of foul-smelling faeces. Some other causes include:
1. Malabsorption
Malabsorption is also a common cause of foul-smelling faeces. Malabsorption occurs when your body cannot absorb the right amount of nutrients from the food you eat. This usually occurs when there is an infection or disease that prevents your intestines from absorbing nutrients from food.
Common causes of malabsorption include:
- Celiac disease, which is a reaction to gluten which damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents absorption of nutrients.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (inflammatory bowel disease or IBD), such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
- Carbohydrate intolerance, which is the inability to process sugar and starch completely.
- Lactose intolerance (milk protein).
- Food allergy.
If you have IBD, eating certain foods will cause your intestines to become inflamed. People with IBD often complain of diarrhea or foul-smelling constipation. People with IBD also complain of a bloated stomach after eating certain foods.
2. Most foods that are high in gas
When you eat lots of sulfur-containing foods such as meat, milk, garlic and vegetables such as broccoli, and cabbage, your intestines will work harder to digest these foods. In addition, these foods also produce more gas which can cause your stool to stink.
3. Infection
Infection that affects the intestines can also cause foul smelling stools. Gastroenteritis and inflammation of the stomach and intestines can occur after eating food contaminated with bacteria such asEscherichia coli orSalmonella, viruses, and parasites.
After you get infected, you may feel symptoms such as stomach cramps and foul-smelling stools.
4. Medications and supplements
Certain drugs can cause digestive disorders and diarrhea. Taking a multivitamin that is sold freely can also cause foul-smelling stool if you are allergic to supplement ingredients. Taking antibiotics may also make feces stink, until your normal intestinal bacteria recover.
Foul-smelling faeces can be a side effect of taking drugs more than the recommended dosage. Diarrhea associated with multivitamins or drug overdose is a sign of a medical emergency.
5. Other conditions
Other conditions that can cause foul-smelling faeces include chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and short bowel syndrome. To ascertain what causes foul-smelling faeces, the solution is to check directly with the doctor.
Symptoms of foul-smelling stool
Other symptoms that may occur when foul-smelling stools include:
- runny, soft stool or diarrhea
- frequent bowel movements
- stomach ache
- nausea
- gag
- bloated
Foul-smelling stools may be a sign of a serious medical condition. See a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- there is blood in the stool
- black stool
- pale stool
- fever
- stomach ache
- weight loss
- chill or hot cold
