The smell of rotting fish
Trimethylaminuria is a big word for “fish odour syndrome.” In this rare genetic disorder, an enzyme in the body (called FMO3) fails to do its job of breaking down trimethylamine, a chemical found in foods like milk, eggs, beans and organ meats, according to the National Institutes of Health. This chemical compound has a pungent, sulfurous odour that can smell like rotting fish or eggs; at higher levels, you may get whiffs of urine or trash left in the sun. While there’s no cure, you can minimise trouble by avoiding foods with trimethylamine.
Musty breath
Breath that smells musty or similar to garlic and rotten eggs is annoying on its own; it’s very concerning if you haven’t actually been eating garlic or eggs. Marc S. Rabinowitz, MD, of Prevention First Healthcare says that if the liver starts failing at its job of detoxifying the blood – this can happen with cirrhosis, for example – your breath can go sour. It’s important to see your doctor soon: A study in the Journal of Chromatography B reveals that cirrhosis of the liver can be virtually symptom-free; bad breath may be your best and earliest warning sign.
It smells a little fishy “down there”
A fishy odour, along with increased vaginal discharge, is the trademark of an infection called bacterial vaginosis, says Sherry Ross, MD, an OB/GYN and author of She-ology. All women have bacteria that normally hang out in the vagina, but sometimes the natural balance gets thrown out of whack. Most commonly, this can happen during your period, from douching, or after having a lot of sex or sex with a new partner. It’s important not to rush to the drugstore to get rid of the odours with over-the-counter treatments without calling your gynaecologist first, she says, adding this usually needs a prescription of antibiotics to treat the infection and the fishy odours.
