What Diseases Do Unpleasant Body Odors Indicate?

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

What do diseases smell like - is it possible to diagnose by the smell of a person

Doctors say that due to certain diseases, our body can begin to smell specifically. Let's find out what smells are a distress signal.

Acetone or rotting apples

Acetone body odor is caused by diabetes. This is because, due to the lack of inulin, there is an excess of glucose in the blood. Because of this, metabolism worsens, namely, the content of ketone bodies increases. Ketone bodies are acetone, it is produced in small amounts by the liver. The body constantly removes their excess along with sweat, hence the smell of acetone or rotting apples. This condition can be a sign of a dangerous hyperglycemic coma, so in this case, you should definitely see a doctor.

Urea or ammonia

The kidneys are responsible for excreting urine from our body, so if the body smells like urea, it could be a sign of problems with them. Also, the smell of ammonia from the mouth, from the skin or from urine indicates kidney failure. Ammonia is a volatile substance that frees the body from excess nitrogen. And the smell that appears may indicate that the kidneys and liver cannot cope with its excretion.

Also, ammonia fumes from the body can appear due to the high protein content in the body - for example, when a person sits on a long low-carb diet. In this case, it is worth introducing more carbohydrates into your diet so that the body can take energy from them.

Boiled cabbage smell

The unpleasant smell of boiled cabbage appears with a genetic disorder of tyrosinemia. This disease affects the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The essence of this disease is in the body's mutations, due to which it stops producing enzymes that break down the amino acid tyrosine. As a result, it accumulates in the body, and its increased content in the blood leads to the emergence of a specific spirit.

The smell of fish

Trimethylanuria is a genetic disease in which the odorous substance trimethylamine accumulates in the body. From it the skin, exhaled air and urine acquire an unpleasant and strong fish smell. This is the only symptom of this disease that negatively affects the social life of patients. Against the background of social isolation, the patient may develop depression.

Vinegar

Malfunctions of the endocrine system can cause iodine deficiency, and the body begins to smell faintly of vinegar. This syndrome is also associated with increased sweating. Also, the smell of vinegar can be caused by vitamin deficiency, namely a lack of vitamins D and A.

Mastopathy is another reason for this stench. This is a disease of the breast, characterized by excessive proliferation of its tissues and pain in this area.

Sweet rotten smell

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease that affects the oropharynx and larynx, changing the smell of sweat to sweet with an unpleasant trail of rot and decay. The danger of this disease lies in the risk of complications that can affect the respiratory system.

Wet sheep wool

The adrenal glands are organs responsible for the production of hormones that regulate metabolism. Adrenal gland problems can cause a specific smell of wet sheep's wool.

Hydrogen sulfide

The unpleasant, heavy stench of rotten eggs is the smell of hydrogen sulfide. It appears with the development of a stomach ulcer or gastritis with low acidity. This is due to the fact that hydrogen sulfide is the main oxidation component released during protein breakdown.