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. Diarrhea, bloating, or flatulence may occur with foul-smelling stools. These stools are often soft or runny.

Changes in diet are a common cause of foul-smelling stool. Additional causes include the following:

Malabsorption

Malabsorption is also a common cause of foul-smelling stool.

Malabsorption occurs when your body is unable to absorb the proper amount of nutrients from the food you eat.

This generally occurs when there’s an infection or disease that prevents your intestines from absorbing nutrients from your food.

Common causes of malabsorption include:

IBD is an autoimmune condition that can cause inflammation of your intestines. If you have IBD, eating certain foods can trigger your intestines to become inflamed.

炎症性肠病的人经常抱怨恶臭diarrhea or constipation. People with IBD also have flatulence after eating certain foods. This flatulence may have a foul smell.

Infection

Infections that affect the intestines may also cause foul-smelling stools. Gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, can occur after eating food contaminated with:

  • bacteria, such asE. coli or Salmonella
  • viruses
  • parasites

Soon after developing the infection, you may experience abdominal cramps and then have foul-smelling, runny stools.

Medications and supplements

Certain medications may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea.

Taking some over-the-counter multivitamins may also cause foul-smelling stools if you’re allergic to the supplements’ ingredients.

After a course of antibiotics, you may have foul-smelling stools until your normal bacterial flora is restored.

Foul-smelling diarrhea can be a side effect of taking more than the recommended daily allowance of a multivitamin or any single vitamin or mineral.

Diarrhea associated with a multivitamin or more medication than the recommended dosage is the sign of a medical emergency. Getting too much of any of these vitamins can have life threatening side effects:

  • vitamin A
  • vitamin D
  • vitamin E
  • vitamin K

Other conditions

Other conditions that can cause foul-smelling stools include:

Symptoms that may occur with foul-smelling stools include:

Foul-smelling stools may be the sign of a serious medical condition. See your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:

During your appointment, your doctor will ask questions about your stools, including their consistency and when you first noticed the foul odor.

If the consistency of your stools has recently changed, your doctor will want to know when the change occurred. Tell your doctor about any recent changes you’ve made to your diet.

Your doctor may ask for a stool sample to be taken to check for bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. They may also request a blood sample for testing.

Your long-term outlook depends on what caused the foul-smelling stool. Most conditions that cause this symptom are treatable.

However, diseases such as Crohn’s may require lifelong changes to your diet or medications to manage bowel movements and pain.

Here are some ways to help prevent foul-smelling stools:

Make dietary changes

Making dietary changes may help prevent foul-smelling stools. For example, avoid drinking raw, or unpasteurized, milk.

If you have a disease that affects the way you absorb food or the way your body reacts to eating certain foods, your doctor can create a diet plan that’s right for you.

Following this diet plan can help reduce symptoms such as:

  • abdominal pain
  • abdominal bloating
  • foul-smelling stools

For IBD, for instance, you can follow thelow FODMAP diet.

Handle food properly

Avoid bacterial infections from your food by handling it correctly. Cook raw foods thoroughly before eating. Examples include:

  • beef
  • poultry
  • pork
  • eggs

Cooking thoroughly means checking your food’s internal temperature with a thermometer before eating.

Consult your local health department for the minimum internal temperature each type of food must reach before you eat it.

Don’t prepare meat and vegetables on the same chopping board. Preparing them on the same board can spreadSalmonellaor other bacteria.

You should also wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meats or using the restroom.

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