Nobody’s stool smells good. But if the odor is different or worse than usual, it could be a sign of a problem. Your stool is a product of several things, including your diet, colon health, and your overall health. It’s also a product of your digestive system microbiome. That is made up of microbes (bacteria) that live in your gut. Most of the time, smelly poop is caused by your diet. It could be caused by eating certain foods or from lactose intolerance. But if it routinely smells bad, you may have an imbalance in your microbiome or a disease like inflammatory bowel disease. Occasional foul-smelling stool may not require any treatment. But if it continues or you also have other symptoms, like runny stool, more frequent bowel movements, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain—see your doctor.
Eating foods that don’t agree with you (such as dairy if you’re lactose intolerant), or foods that smell bad (asparagus, durian) can all lead to foul-smelling stools. If your stool smells really bad a few times in a row, it’s likely that it’s because of a food that you ate. If you are lactose intolerant, avoid dairy foods or take a supplement with lactase enzymes before eating dairy foods. If symptoms continue or you also have severe pain or fevers, see your doctor to rule out other conditions. Just because your stool smells really bad after eating particular foods does not mean you have to cut out those foods. As long as you are not having other symptoms with it, foul-smelling stools on their own are not a problem. —Dr. Shria Kumar
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (gut). People who have IBS may experience diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both. The most common symptom of IBS is stomach pain. Some people with IBS say they experience a bad odor and changes in stool. If you suspect you have IBS, see your doctor. Although there is no cure for IBS, there are many treatments available to help control your symptoms. Medications include anti-spasmodics (for belly pain and cramps), gut-specific antibiotics for diarrhea, and other medications.
Antibiotics can change the balance of your gut microbiome (mix of bacteria in your gut). This can cause changes in the odor of your stool and its consistency. These side effects of antibiotics are usually temporary. They either stop after you complete your antibiotics or within 2 to 4 weeks. It’s not usually a cause of concern. If your symptoms continue and bother you, your doctor may suggest taking probiotics. Your doctor may also recommend treatments similar to those for IBS, such as medications that relieve diarrhea. Gastrointestinal (GI) infections have many causes, including bacteria, viruses, or parasites. If you have an infection, you’ll usually also have other symptoms, such as diarrhea or abdominal pain. See your doctor, who will do tests to identify what caused your intestinal infection. If it’s a bacterial bug, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics. If you have a parasite, they may give you an anti-parasitic medication. If it’s viral, there is nothing to cure the illness. Treatment will focus on staying hydrated and resting. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammation of the digestive tract. There are two types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms may develop gradually or they can occur suddenly. IBD is caused by several factors, including genetics. If you have a parent or sibling with IBD, you have a higher risk of developing it as well. Lifestyle plays a role too. For example, people who smoke are more likely to develop Crohn’s disease. If you suspect you have IBD, see your doctor. Left untreated, IBD can lead to serious problems, such as malnutrition, bleeding, certain cancers, and overall poor health. Your doctor should refer you to a gastroenterologist (specialist in digestive diseases) and will do tests to confirm a diagnosis. The goal of treating IBD is to eliminate inflammation so the disease goes into remission (symptoms stop). This is typically done with medication and changes to your diet. Most people with IBD will have recurrence of symptoms (“flares”). If these are severe, surgery may be required to remove parts of the bowel. Our stool is a product of multiple factors: our diet, our colon health, body health, and our microbiome (all the microbes that live on and inside the human body). This is a relatively hardy system, but changes in the balance can result in changes in our stool. —Dr. Kumar
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract. In people with celiac disease, eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, triggers the immune system to respond. The inflammation damages the lining of the small intestine. See your doctor if you think you have celiac disease. It is treated mostly by avoiding products that contain gluten. Your doctor will also recommend regular blood tests to check for nutrient deficiencies. This is because the inflammation caused by celiac can make it difficult for your body to absorb the nutrients in food. A number of conditions may also cause foul-smelling stool, but it is usually not the main symptom or they’re not very common.
Babies may have foul-smelling stool for a variety of reasons. They could have a stomach infection, or it may be a sign of something more serious, such as celiac disease or cystic fibrosis. It could also be the result of a vitamin deficiency. Call your pediatrician if it persists. They may ask you to track when the foul-smelling stool began, any color changes, and how often your infant poops. See your doctor if you have foul-smelling stool and:
Ask your doctor: What triggered this? Is there any testing I need, based on my history and symptoms? —Dr. Kumar You should go to the emergency room if you have any of the following:
TreatmentsAt-home care
Other possible treatments
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