Stools - foul smelling

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Lower digestive anatomy

Foul-smelling stools

Home care depends on the specific diagnosis. Follow your health care provider's instructions closely, and adhere strictly to prescribed diets. If you have diarrhea, make sure to increase your water intake to avoid dehydration.

If you have associated symptoms -- abdominal pain, fever, chills, cramping, weight loss, stools that float or are difficult to flush, blood in the stool, black or pale stools, mucus in the stool, or diet-related changes in your stool -- call your health care provider.

Foul-smelling stools are a single symptom of a disease complex. Other symptoms and signs are generally present. Your health care provider will take a family and disease history, then complete a physical examination.

Medical history questions may include:

• When did you first notice that the stools were foul-smelling?
• Are the stools an abnormal color (especially pale or clay-colored stools)?
• Are there floating stools or stools that are difficult to flush?
• What sort of diet has been eaten recently?
• Does a change in the diet make the smell worse or better?
• What other symptoms are present?

A stool sample will be obtained for laboratory analysis. Other studies may be indicated.

After seeing your health care provider:

You may want to add a diagnosis related to the cause of foul-smelling stools to your personal medical record.

Review Date: 01/23/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.