Even if a person is completely healthy, after emptying the bowel, an unpleasant smell always remains in the toilet. But if suddenly there was a sharp smell of feces, then perhaps some diseases develop in the body, although this is often associated with food that was consumed the day before.
The smell of human waste is formed due to gases that are produced during the digestion and breakdown of food.
Norm indicators
Normal stool should occur daily or every two days, 1-2 times without any straining. After a bowel movement, a feeling of comfort should ensue. A deviation from the norm is considered if a person goes to the toilet “for the most part” once in three days, or diarrhea worries for 5 or more days.
The amount of feces varies from 150 to 400 grams. The more plant foods, the more bowel movements. The color of feces is brown. Deviations in color are acceptable after eating certain foods, for example, if you abuse a carrot, your feces may become orange. But if it acquires a dark green or black color, and this lasts more than 5 days, then most likely a disease has appeared: cirrhosis or an ulcer.
The consistency of bowel movements can also tell a lot. Ideally, feces consist of 30% of processed food residues and 30% of water. Another indicator is the form of feces. In a healthy person, they should have a cylindrical and sausage shape.
The smell of feces
If the body is healthy, then the stool should have an unpleasant, but not pungent smell. If there are problems with the digestive process in the intestine, stagnant processes begin, undigested food begins to rot, pathogenic bacteria appear and, as a result, an unpleasant odor.
In general, regardless of the smell of feces, the causes are usually standard - food or certain diseases.
Sour stool
The most common reason for the appearance of sour stench - foods that were eaten the day before. Less often, but still some diseases can provoke an acidic smell of feces:
- intestinal infections;
- Crohn's disease;
- allergic to certain foods;
- celiac disease;
- insufficient pancreatic enzyme;
- inflammatory processes.
In addition to stench, diarrhea may appear, and torment increased gas formation. In acute intestinal disorders, vomiting may occur.
In infancy, this problem appears against the background of an allergic reaction to artificial feeding. In children under the age of 2 years, such a problem may be associated with rotavirus infection, colitis, dysbiosis or fermentative dispersion.
With an increase in body temperature against the background of the acid smell of feces up to 39 degrees, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor.
Most often, getting rid of this problem is very simple. It is necessary to normalize nutrition, adults need to refuse to drink alcohol, and infants should change their diet.
Fetid stool
Such a problem very often appears against the background of the use of a large number of vegetables, which in their composition have many phytoncides. First of all, it's garlic and onions. And this is due to the fact that these products destroy the pathogenic microflora, which is present in small quantities in the intestines of each person.
Provoking foods can also include legumes, cabbage, and foods that are high in fat. The provocateurs of the fetid stench odor also include so-called artificial foods, that is, those in which there are a large number of stabilizers, conservatives and flavorings.
In children, such a smell often indicates that there is dysbiosis. In parallel, a rash may appear on the body. It can also occur against the background of antimicrobial or antibacterial therapy.
The most dangerous symptom is the smell of feces, similar to the smell of rotten carrion. Such a symptom is characteristic of malignant neoplasms in the intestine, therefore you should immediately consult a doctor. Perhaps this is not the reason, but the examination must be passed.
Eliminating the smell of feces. Treatment
If the stink of feces appeared against the background of dysbiosis, then the following drugs are used in therapy: Bifidumbacterin, Lactofiltrum, and others.
Problems often appear amid an allergic reaction. One of the most allergenic products includes honey, milk, citruses, and chocolate. Along with a change in the smell of feces, a rash and peeling often appear on the skin. Flatulence, diarrhea, and even chills can also torment. Food allergies can be cured in only one way - to eliminate foods that provoke it from the diet. In symptomatic therapy, the following drugs are used: Suprastin, Loratadin, Claritin, and Tavegil. In addition to taking drugs, it is recommended to cleanse the intestines of toxins and toxins, for this you can use activated charcoal, "Polyphepan" or "Neosmectin."
Bowel disease
The unpleasant smell of feces in an adult or child is often associated with gastrointestinal diseases. To determine the cause, it is necessary to examine the intestines and pass a fecal analysis, make a coprogram.
If a diagnosis of enteritis or colitis was made, then, most likely, along with a change in the patient’s smell, flatulence, bloating, intestinal cramps, pressure in the lower abdomen are disturbing. For treatment, first of all, use the table number 4 according to Pevzner. As a symptomatic treatment, carminative drugs, antispasmodics, laxatives, in extreme cases, antibiotics are used.
Helminthic infestations
The smell of feces in a child often changes due to the presence of worms. After all, this problem is inherent precisely in children who have not yet reached the age of 14. At this age, they still do not know how to carefully monitor hygiene.
In addition to the fetid odor, in the presence of parasites, diarrhea or, on the contrary, constipation, rumbling in the stomach, pallor of the skin, and a decrease in the resistance of the whole organism as a whole can occur.
In this case, anthelmintic drugs are used, for example, Dekaris, Nemozol, Levamisole and others. However, their child should not be prescribed on their own. First of all, it is necessary to undergo an examination, to determine the type of parasites. In addition, all preparations for worms are very toxic, so the doctor should determine the dose for the child. The main thing is to get rid of parasites without fail, since there is a risk that in the future the child will develop systemic anemia, as the worms feed on blood.
Conclusion
In addition to the acid stench of feces, a putrefactive odor may appear, which is typical for people suffering from constipation. A faint smell indicates that an accelerated process of feces evacuation takes place in the small intestine. And if the smell resembles the smell of rancid oil, then, most likely, in the intestine, the process of decomposition of fats has intensified.
In most cases, getting rid of a foul-smelling stool is quite simple by adjusting your diet. In addition, it is recommended to cook food qualitatively (boil, fry or stew well), thoroughly wash food and avoid bacterial infections. You should carefully monitor personal hygiene, it is better to abandon the use of unpasteurized milk. Do not cut vegetables and meat on one board. Be sure to wash your hands after going to the toilet.