Altered body odor – causes, treatment and prevention

Altered body odor

The problem of a changed body odor can be defined, for example, with a (CLA) chronic latent hyperacidity (acidosis) in the cells and organs. But a kidney dysfunction, various types of cancer in an advanced stage, a decubitus or leg ulcer as well as diarrhea, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure and alcohol abuse are possible causes. This also applies to hypothyroidism as well as diphtheria and fever.

What is altered body odor?

The term body odor refers to all smellable bodily vapors in humans through the skin . The smell of sweat is the first thing most people notice. The odor of armpit sweat is caused by the breakdown of fats and proteins in the apocrine sweat glands. Because it also contains androstenone as a breakdown product of testosterone , a slight odor is perceived by many people as potentially erotic. Body odor is individually different and only duplicates in identical twins. An extremely increased body odor can indicate a wide variety of diseases.

causes

The following overview shows how diverse the causes of a changed body odor are:

  • Chronic latent hyperacidity (CLA)

A CLA results in a pathological reduction in the pH value in the blood, which means that the pH value is no longer between 7.38 and 7.42%. The result is a disruption of the acid-base balance with a sour body odor. An overly acidic connective tissue also leads to a changed body odour.

  • renal dysfunction

If the toxins are no longer excreted via the kidneys due to illness, but partly via the eccrine sweat glands, the body odor changes. Kidney failure is caused by too many substances that remain in the blood and are normally excreted through the kidneys as substances in the urinary tract . Breath, skin and sweat smell like urine.

  • liver failure

Shortly before a hepatic coma, a very pronounced breath with an earthy or ammonia-like smell develops. Hormonal fluctuations caused by menopause or puberty. In both phases of life, a strong smelling hyperhidrosis (increased sweating) can occur.

  • Decubitus

A putrid or sweet odor from the open area (decubitus ulcer), which sometimes develops into necrosis (tissue death), is responsible for altered body odor. If the wound is inflamed with pus, the smell of pus is added.

  • open leg

The causes of the changed body odor can be compared to those of a decubitus.

Bacterial or viral infections , drug side effects, cytostatic drug treatments and drug abuse, as well as heavy metal poisoning can cause diarrhea with altered body odor. Food allergies can also lead to diarrhea, which changes body odor. Two other factors are stress and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Aggressive pathogens can damage the intestinal wall. Since the nutrients cannot be utilized, an undersupply, initially with electrolytes, is possible if diarrhea persists.

  • Diabetes mellitus

If there is extreme high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) due to a lack of insulin and too much carbohydrate-rich food , breathing smells of acetone and/or rotten apple.

  • Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

In this disease, the hormones T3 and T4 are not produced sufficiently, which slows down the metabolism. Sweat sometimes smells like urine. Since these symptoms are not considered typical of hypothyroidism, kidney function should be checked. The bad breath is foul.

  • alcoholism

Existing alcohol dependence can be based on a wide variety of factors, but these mostly result from the direct private and/or professional environment of the person concerned. Breathing air often smells like alcohol , just like sweat .

  • Diphtheria

With this infection of the tonsils or mucous membranes , a dark coating (pseudomembrane) forms, which causes a sweet smell in those affected, which can even spread in your environment.

It can temporarily lead to a change in body odor because the metabolism changes and the sweat is composed of other substances as a result.

In addition, various types of cancer in advanced stages can cause a change in body odor. The physical decay is the cause of the stronger body odor here. This is particularly the case with cervical carcinoma (cervical cancer), because the inevitable discharge smells sweetly of decomposition.

Diseases

  • renal dysfunction

When to the doctor?

A changed body odor can provide information about an illness or an unhealthy diet. As a rule, the patient should not smell himself. If the altered body odor occurs with a cold or the flu, it is a common symptom that does not require treatment. The body odor usually goes away after a few days when the illness has been overcome and the state of health has returned to normal.

However, if the new body odor does not go away on its own, a doctor must be consulted. This can be a symptom of another disease that has gone unnoticed by the patient. If the body odor is bad breath, the cause is usually poor oral hygiene. This can be controlled by brushing your teeth more frequently or by using a mouthwash. However, if the bad breath comes from the stomach, a doctor must be consulted for treatment.

In most cases, the doctor can identify the cause of the changed body odor relatively well and carry out treatment so that the disease progresses positively. If the changed body odor is due to a specific food intake, a doctor’s visit is not necessary. As a rule, the smell disappears after a day.

diagnosis and course

In the case of CLA (chronic latent hyperacidity), the diagnosis is made with a blood gas analysis. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, the pH value and the acid-base ratio are measured. The course depends on the type of CLA. In any case, there is a need for treatment so that no serious damage occurs. Kidney failure is diagnosed with a physical exam and a laboratory test to measure creatinine and urea levels. Electrolytes and hemoglobin levels and a test for proteinuria are also included. Ultrasound examinations and X-rays supplement the diagnosis.

Liver failure can be diagnosed with a thromboplastin time measurement to determine blood clotting, X-rays, and a biopsy with tissue removal. Liver failure can lead to jaundice , blood clotting disorders, endocrine disruption, and a hepatic coma or kidney failure. Hormone fluctuations can be determined very precisely by hormone tests at the gynaecologist. If left untreated, hot flashes , sexual disorders, irritability and lack of concentration as well as a lack of physical and mental resilience can result.

In the case of cancer, the usual methods of oncology are used as part of cancer diagnostics. Metastasis can occur later . Diagnosing a decubitus is possible with visual diagnosis. In grade I, the surface is red and in grade II, sores and blisters are visible. Bacterial infections and inflammation of the bone marrow can result from incorrect or insufficient treatment. Patients should be brought into other lying positions in good time and permanently by repositioning, free positioning or soft positioning. A sepsis with life-threatening organ damage can occur as a result.

Visual diagnosis can also be used for an open leg. Build-up foci of inflammation and further venous damage can occur. The cause of persistent diarrhea can be found in the laboratory. Fluid and electrolyte deficiency can be the result. The doctor can diagnose diabetes mellitus type 2 using the blood values ​​with the parameters of fasting blood sugar, occasional blood sugar and an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c value. The consequences of diabetes range from depression to eye and kidney diseases.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is first diagnosed with regard to a possible enlargement of the thyroid by means of a palpation examination. The TSH value as well as the values ​​T3 and T4 are determined in the laboratory. If there is a suspicion of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in the further course, the antibodies are also determined. Especially the microsomal AK(MAK = TPO-AK.

A sonography (ultrasound examination) follows. The duplex sonography also provides information about the functionality of the thyroid gland . Scintigraphy is used to clarify whether the thyroid tissue is active (hot) or inactive (cold). The fine needle puncture serves to clarify any malignant thyroid diseases. If this disease is not treated, it leads to exhaustion , lack of concentration, lack of physical resilience and sometimes to the formation of benign or malignant nodules.

Alcoholism is diagnosed with a detailed anamnesis including substance use as well as a physical examination and a questionnaire according to the ICD. In the further course, high blood pressure, liver dysfunction, depression and sleep disorders as well as sexual dysfunction but also pancreatitis, fatty liver and myocardial damage can occur.

Gray-white plaque (e.g., in the throat or nose) that bleeds when touched and a sweetish odor are diagnostic indicators of diphtheria to an experienced physician. An examination in the micro laboratory provides clarity. The course is usually characterized by fever, cough , vomiting and swollen lymph nodes . Inflammation of the heart muscle or dysphagia are known complications. Fever is diagnosed after exceeding the elevated temperature from 38 degrees. If it continues to rise, it can lead to a coma-like state from almost 40 degrees.

complications

The altered body odor itself is only an indication and does not in itself lead to complications. However, this can provide an indication of a possible and serious illness, which must be treated by a doctor. Often the changed smell occurs with alcohol abuse. The patient pays little attention to his hygiene and smells of alcohol all over his body. Here, not only physical, but also psychological and social damage is threatened. In this case, a withdrawal is necessary. Alcoholism reduces life expectancy enormously and organs are damaged.

If the changed body odor occurs in the case of diabetes or kidney failure, this also has restrictive consequences for the patient’s life. Tumors can also cause the change and lead to severe complications. In the worst case, this can lead to death. When you have a cold or the flu, the changed body odor is a harmless symptom and does not need to be treated. The treatment itself always depends on the underlying disease, from which the possible complications also occur. Therefore, no general prediction is possible here. However, if the changed body odor does not go away on its own, a doctor must be consulted to avoid further symptoms and complications.

treatment and therapy

A change in diet to alkaline foods is helpful in the case of chronic latent hyperacidity with a strong body odor, the CLA . In order to regulate the acid-base balance in the connective tissue, stress must be reduced and daily exercise increased. If there is a kidney dysfunction, a low-protein diet is important. If the dysfunction is more than 80%, dialysis must be performed. Drug therapy is often successful beforehand and the unpleasant body vapors decrease.

Kidney failure (uraemia) with bad breath similar to your own urine must be treated immediately by a urologist or emergency doctor. The same applies to liver failure. A strong body odor caused by hormone fluctuations during menopause or puberty can be alleviated with frequent showering and good deodorants to create social compatibility. Hormone or hormone replacement therapy or special tea cures can help. If the cancer is in an advanced stage, only intensive personal hygiene by the nursing staff will help.

In the case of pressure ulcers, bedsores, or leg ulcers, it is important to provide patients with anti-inflammatory dressings and medication. Compression therapy for an open leg with the utmost hygiene in terms of wound care is most effective in most cases. In case of diarrhea (diarrhoea), drinking a lot and giving electrolytes always helps.

Diabetes mellitus can be treated very well with a change in diet and/or weight reduction . Oral antidiabetics should only be taken if the values ​​do not normalize as a result. In the advanced stage, insulin usually has to be injected. Kidney failure requires dialysis when medication is not enough. The unpleasant body odor later subsides in some cases. The same also applies to kidney failure and liver failure.

A hypothyroidism with strong body odor can be adjusted with vitamin D and a special thyroid hormone. Alcoholism and its bodily odors can only be treated with rehab. The diphtheria is treated with an anti-toxin to bind unbound diphtheria toxin and penicillin to kill the bacteria. In severe cases, temporary artificial respiration is required. If you have a fever with a strong body odor, drinking a lot of water helps to support the elimination.

prevention

healthy alkaline diet is a good basis for preventing hyperacidity. Alkaline foods are, for example, certain vegetables, fruit, barley and spelled products, herbs, sprouts, germs as well as coconut and linseed oil .

Having the exact list in sight is recommended. Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation. Stress, both physical and mental, should be avoided. A balanced hormone balance is also important. Bladder infections should always be treated immediately to prevent kidney damage. And last but not least, extensive personal hygiene is the be-all and end-all to counteract excessive body odor.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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