Stool, also known as poop, comes in various shapes, colors, and textures, each potentially carrying information about your health. Stools normally have an unpleasant odor. But sometimes, stools may have an odor that is unusually strong, foul, or putrid. While an occasional unusual odor might be chalked up to something you ate, a persistent and peculiar smell, like that of mothballs, can be cause for concern. This article delves into the potential causes of stool that smells like mothballs, exploring the various factors that can contribute to this unusual symptom and guiding you on when to seek medical advice.
What Constitutes Foul-Smelling Stools?
Foul-smelling stools are stools with a very bad odor. Stools normally have an unpleasant odor. Most of the time, the odor is familiar. Stools that have an extremely bad, abnormal odor may be due to certain medical conditions.
The Digestive Process: A Quick Overview
To understand the origins of stool odor, it's helpful to understand the digestive process. Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs. Whatever has not been absorbed by the small intestine passes into the colon. In the colon most of the water is absorbed from the food residue. Throughout this process, bacteria in the gut play a crucial role in breaking down food and producing various compounds that contribute to stool odor.
Common Causes of Foul-Smelling Stools
Many factors can contribute to changes in stool odor. In many cases, these stools occur due to changes in your diet, gut microbiome, or the bacteria in your colon.
Dietary Habits
What you eat significantly impacts the smell of your stool. Temporary foul-smelling stools may be caused by eating certain foods. In particular, foods that are rich in sulfates may lead to stools that smell like rotten eggs. These foods may include:
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- Meat, poultry, and seafood
- Vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, and leeks
- Legumes, such as soybeans and black beans
- Eggs and dairy
- Grains, such as pearl barley, oats, and wheat
- Beverages, such as alcohol, cider, and coconut milk
Eating certain types of foods may also trigger conditions and diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and lactose- and gluten-related diseases.
Malabsorption
Malabsorption syndrome refers to several disorders that prevent your body from properly absorbing enough nutrients. A number of conditions and diseases could cause malabsorption. A number of conditions and diseases could cause malabsorption, such as:
- Celiac disease
- IBD
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Cholestasis
- Liver disease
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, such as chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis
- Short bowel syndrome
- Lactose intolerance
- Carbohydrate intolerance, which is an inability to process sugars and starches completely
Infections
Infections that affect the intestines may also cause foul-smelling stools. These may include:
- Viral and bacterial gastroenteritis
- E. coli
- Salmonella
- Clostridium difficile infection (C. diff)
- Giardiasis
Soon after developing an infection, you may also experience other symptoms like abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
Antibiotics and Supplements
Antibiotics are medications used to help fight infections caused by bacteria. That said, certain types of antibiotics may cause diarrhea, foul-smelling stools, and gastrointestinal discomfort. These may occur during or after your antibiotic course. But they typically subside once your normal bacterial floral is restored. OTC multivitamins may also pose toxic and adverse side effects, such as foul-smelling stools and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Read also: Carnivore Diet and Digestion
Some of these vitamins include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
Speak with a doctor before taking new vitamin supplements, especially if you have allergies, are pregnant, or smoke.
The Mothball Connection: Exploring Specific Causes
While the general causes of foul-smelling stools are well-documented, the specific "mothball" scent is less common and requires a closer look. Research indicates that the compounds associated with fecal odor include methyl sulfides, methanethiol, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, skatole, and indole, some of which can create a naphthalene-like "mothball" scent. Skatole and indole, the benzopyrrole volatiles believed to be responsible for fecal odor, in fact elaborated a napthalenelike "mothball" odor in the crystalline state as well as after purging from feces.
Bacterial Imbalance
Certain bacteria can produce stool with an unusual odor, which may be linked to bacterial overgrowth or insufficient digestion of nitrogen. An imbalance in gut bacteria, whether due to infection, diet, or medication, can lead to the production of unusual odor compounds.
Post-Surgery and Detox Considerations
Unusual stool odor may relate to diet changes or digestive issues post-surgery. A mothball-like smell in stool can result from altered gut bacteria or digestion changes after surgery or detox cleanses. Surgical stress and dietary shifts may affect bile production and intestinal flora, leading to unusual odors. A detox cleanse earlier this year, and had surgery 2 months ago (a lower body lift). These procedures can disrupt the digestive system and alter the gut microbiome, potentially leading to unusual stool odors.
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Constipation
Constipation can also contribute to unusual stool odors. I suspect this odor may be related to constipation. When stool remains in the colon for an extended period, bacteria have more time to ferment and produce odor-causing compounds.
Underlying Health Conditions
In some cases, foul-smelling stools can be a symptom of an underlying health condition.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
In particular, unusual poop smells may be a sign of conditions that affect the digestive system, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This disorder, which leads to ongoing pain and swelling in the digestive system, has two main types - Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Several studies have found that people with IBD have stools that contain unusual-smelling substances compared to those without the condition.
Liver Disease
Up to 1 out of 20 people with IBD develop liver disease, which can happen for different reasons. Liver problems can interfere with digestion and lead to changes in stool appearance or smell.
Colorectal Cancer
Some research has found that changes in stool smell may be a sign of these types of cancer.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Foul-smelling stools typically go away on their own without treatment. That said, seek medical attention if these stools are accompanied by other symptoms that last for more than 48 hours, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloody stools.
You should also tell your doctor if foul-smelling stool occurs along with any potentially more serious issues, such as:
- Blood in your stool, which may cause it to look red, black, or tarry
- Pale-colored stool
- Fever or chills
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Unexpected weight loss
Diagnostic Tests
If your doctor thinks there could be a problem, they may recommend undergoing tests to look for additional signs of health issues. A doctor may perform a medical history and physical examination. This may include questions about your dietary habits and stools, such as their consistency and when you first noticed the foul odor. They may also use other diagnostic tests, such as:
- Stool sample
- Blood test
- Hydrogen breath test
- Endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Skin prick test
- Imaging techniques, such as MRI scans and ultrasounds
Potential Treatments and Management Strategies
Periodic foul-smelling stool will often go away on its own. For example, if antibiotics are the cause, your stool will typically return to normal shortly after finishing your course. That said, certain conditions and diseases may require treatment from a wide range of interventions, such as surgery, medication, and lifelong dietary changes. It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional to establish the best treatment for you.
Dietary Changes
Making dietary changes, such as eliminating certain foods from your diet, may help you discover which foods are causing foul-smelling stools. This may involve removing certain foods from your diet for a certain period of time. Then, as you gradually reintroduce these foods one by one, look out for any symptoms they may cause, such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Irregular bowel movements
- Foul-smelling stools
If you’re diagnosed with a disease that may affect the way your body reacts to eating certain foods, a healthcare professional or dietitian may help create a plan that’s right for you. For example, a low FODMAP diet may be helpful if you have IBD.
Probiotics
For optimal bowel health, I suggest considering the probiotic Bio K. You may be able to help fix imbalances in your gut bacteria by eating foods or taking supplements that contain probiotics. Some of the most probiotic-dense foods include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, apple cider vinegar, miso, and kimchi.
Food Hygiene
Bacterial infections like Salmonella could result from a number of things, such as:
- Cross-contamination
- Mishandling meat, poultry, and seafood
- Improper food storage
- Not fully cooking food
It’s important to follow proper food hygiene to keep everyone safe.
Home Care and Prevention
Home care depends on what is causing the problem. Things you can do include:
- Follow your health care provider's instructions.
- If you have been given a special diet, stick to it closely.
- If you have diarrhea, drink more fluids so you do not get dehydrated.