Why do I have a persistent rotten-egg smell from my body?

Question

Hello doctor,

I need help with a chronic odor issue that has been affecting my daily life. For the past one to two years, I have had a constant, very strong smell around me that other people notice as a rotten egg or feces odor, but I cannot smell it myself. It is not coming from my clothes or hygiene. I shower daily, my clothes are clean, and my rectal area does not smell. The odor seems to come from my body in general, almost like it is coming from my breath and my stomach. It gets worse with anxiety, but it is still present even when I am calm.

I have also had episodes in the past of sweating around my butt while sitting, and now the smell has gotten worse, even without sweating. Changing diet, hygiene, and wiping does nothing. I am worried this could be related to my gut, sulfur-producing bacteria, or something internal. I really need guidance on what tests or conditions to consider.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

A persistent sulfur or feces-type odor that others can smell but you cannot, especially when it comes from both your breath and your whole body, most often points to an internal medical issue rather than hygiene. In your case, the smell worsens with protein foods like eggs, which strongly suggests that sulfur-containing compounds from the gut are entering your bloodstream and being released through your breath and skin. This can happen when there is an imbalance of sulfur-producing bacteria in the small intestine, a condition similar to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, even if you do not have bloating, diarrhea, or stomach pain. Malabsorption problems and issues with how your body breaks down sulfur or fats can also lead to a constant foul smell.

Trimethylaminuria is another possibility, although it usually causes a fish odor; some people describe mixed or fecal-type odors. Dental or tonsil issues can also produce continuous sulfur breath, although this would not fully explain the odor coming from your entire body. Anxiety can make the smell more noticeable because it increases sweating and gut activity, but your history shows that anxiety is not the true cause. Your low weight for your height suggests that your digestion or absorption might not be optimal, which fits with an internal cause.

You have not done any lab or stool tests yet, which means the next helpful steps are simple blood tests, such as CBC (complete blood count), liver function tests, thyroid tests, vitamin B12, and stool tests for malabsorption or bacterial imbalance, along with a breath test for sulfur gases or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth if available. Let me know your eating pattern, bowel habits, and whether you have any sinus, tonsil, or dental issues so that I can guide you more precisely.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.