Bacteria that live in the mouth can make compounds that have sulfur. These compounds are especially stinky. They can smell like rotten eggs or onion, for example.
Bacteria make a lot of smells, mostly ones that we'd rather not think about. The hundreds of volatile compounds that bacterial cultures produce can signal many things, although I'm probably one of very few people who associate the smell of warm E.
It happens when smell receptor cells in your nose don't detect odors or transmit them to your brain. Causes include bacterial or viral infections, head trauma, neurological conditions and COVID-19. Parosmia is usually temporary, but in some cases, it's permanent.
Bacterial vaginosis, caused by too much normal bacteria, is the most common reason. The sexually transmitted infection (STI) trichomoniasis also causes odor. Other STIs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea, don't usually have odors. Although less common, cervical or vaginal cancer can also change your vagina's smell.
Internal health issues may result in unpleasant body odors (BO), as well, such as liver and kidney disease and hyperthyroidism, which can lead to excessive sweat and increased BO. Stagg recommends talking with your doctor if you notice a strong smell from your skin.
Description. Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound that has a pungent odor. Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotten or decaying fish.
Bacteria growing in sink drains can make hydrogen sulfide gas (“gas”), which smells like rotten eggs.
Wounds that have a Foul Smell
If a wound continues to emit an unpleasant odor, even with proper cleaning and care, there may be cause for concern. While any wound can be accompanied by a smell, most individuals can recognize one that is overly strong or just isn't quite right and may be a sign of infection.
If your breath smells like acetone -- the same fruity scent as nail polish remover -- it may be a sign of high levels of ketones (acids your liver makes) in your blood. It's a problem mainly of type 1 diabetes but also can happen with type 2 if you get a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Because a rotten smell in your nose often means you're also dealing with a sinus infection, nasal polyps, or another condition, it's likely you also have other symptoms. And because an ammonia smell in the nose can signal advanced kidney disease, see a doctor right away if you have that symptom.
An infected sinus releases mucus that has a foul odor. The mucus drains to the back of your throat, resulting in bad breath. Also, when you have a sinus infection, there may be bacteria trapped in the nasal cavities, which produces an unpleasant smell.
While most patients recover from this, some report an unpleasant new symptom following COVID-19 infection called parosmia. It's a condition where otherwise normal smells now smell and taste unpleasant or even disgusting.
When food goes bad and starts to become pungent, it is most often due to the growth of spoilage microbes such as bacteria, yeasts and mold. Odors can come from two sources: chemicals that are released from the food as the microbes decompose it, or chemicals produced directly by the microbes themselves.
Examples that are commonly known are E. coli, noro virus, and giardia, but there are about 200 known food-borne pathogens in the world. Unfortunately these organisms cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, and it often takes very few of them to infect a person.
Streptococcus anginosus may be beta-hemolytic or nonhemolytic. The small colonies often give off a distinct odor of butterscotch or caramel.
If your skin develops an infection, either new or due to a preexisting condition, you may experience a sudden smell at the site of the infection. Some types of skin infections or conditions that might cause a smell include: trichomycosis axillaris, a bacterial infection of underarm hair follicles.
A strong or foul odor
But infected wounds often have a distinct odor along with other symptoms. Some bacteria can smell sickly sweet, while others can be quite strong, putrid, or ammonia-like. If you notice a strong or foul odor, especially with pus, drainage, or warmth present, alert your doctor as soon as possible.
STDs that can cause an unusual smell include: Chlamydia. Gonorrhea. Trichomoniasis, a common STD caused by a protozoan parasite.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is not an STD or STI, and cannot be sexually transmitted through male or female partners. However, having sex (including new or multiple partners) can increase the risk of bacterial growth and developing symptoms of BV.
If you detect an odor or a "rotten egg" smell in your teeth, the main cause of that could be an anaerobic infection. Anaerobic bacteria is naturally occurring in the body and while they don't cause infection in their natural state, they can cause infection after an injury or trauma to the body.
Certain health conditions.
Some metabolic diseases can cause a distinctive body odor, particularly in their later stages. These include diabetes, as well as advanced kidney and liver disease.
A urine test can show whether a person has high levels of trimethylamine in their urine. People may also undergo genetic testing, which can show whether there is a mutation in the FMO3 gene that causes trimethylaminuria.
Apocrine bromhidrosis is the most common form of bromhidrosis in adults and is localised, usually to the armpits and/or anogenital area. Eccrine bromhidrosis presents as a generalised malodour, and may be associated with bad breath (halitosis), anogenital odour, and smelly urine.
Chronic sinusitis is a persistent condition, with symptoms that include: Nasal obstruction that blocks airflow in one or both of your nostrils. Thick and/or foul-smelling or tasting nasal discharge or postnasal drip.