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Lower digestive anatomy
Lower digestive anatomy

Stools - foul smelling
Definition:
This symptom is stool with an unusually foul smell.

Alternative Names:
Foul-smelling stools

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:
Home Care:
Home care depends on the specific diagnosis. Follow your health care provider's instructions closely, and adhere strictly to prescribed diets. If you have diarrhea, make sure to increase your water intake to avoid dehydration.
Call your health care provider if:

You have associated symptoms, such as abdominal pain, fever, chills, cramping, weight loss, stools that float or are difficult to flush, blood in the stool, black or pale stools, mucus in the stool, or diet-related changes in your stool.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
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 or stools that are difficult to flush?
  • 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 the cause of your foul-smelling stools to your personal medical record.
Review Date: 2/15/2002
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, and Elizabeth Hait, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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