Answered by SecondMedic Expert
General Physician · General Physician
Steatorrhea, also known as fatty stools, can have a foul odor due to the presence of high levels of lipids in stool. The smell may range from being mild and detectable only at close range to a strong and unpleasant smell that dominates the air around it.
The odor is usually described as malodorous, putrid or “fishy” in nature. It can be similar to that of spoiled food or decaying matter with hints of sulfur and other chemicals present in very large amounts in the stool sample. The presence of bacteria digesting these fats will further increase the bad odor produced by steatorrhea stools.
Steatorrhea is often seen when someone has malabsorption issues such as celiac disease or cystic fibrosis where they are not able to digest or absorb certain nutrients properly leading to undigested lipids (fatty substances) being excreted through the feces - thus leading to fatty stools with a distinct smell associated with them. Additionally steatorrhea could be caused by drinking too much alcohol which leads to impaired fat digestion as well resulting in smelly fatty stools passed out through bowel movements. Medications like antibiotics may also lead to an increased population of bacteria which break down fats into its component molecules producing an even more intense scent than normal for people suffering from steatorrhea .
Other causes like pancreatic insufficiency , hookworms , tapeworms , parasites etc all promote excess lipid build up on your digestive system resulting in yellow/grayish oily looking oozing steatorrhoea type feces with an accompanying pungent aroma . As mentioned before this fishy-smelling waste might just simply dominate any place it reaches so if you're ever stuck sharing space with anyone who seems keen on passing these kinds gastrointestinal nuisances - best advice would be good old courtesy asking politely whether he/she wouldn't mind using their own bathroom instead !
