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What Causes Severe Foul Smelling Diarrhea?

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Posted on Mon, 6 Mar 2017
Question: I have had diarrhea that is yellowish with frothy like substances and mucous that imitates a "fish smell". This has been ongoing for 3 days with very little intake (100cc) and large amount of output, the diarrhea and urine. I had horrible sulfur smelling gas a week and a half ago but was symptom free for a week before the bile colored mucous foul feces. Is this probable of Giardia?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
?? Suspecting poor liver health to be the more likely cause ma'am

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Although I do not see any harm in checking on and confirming/ruling out conditions like giardiasis, I feel your presentation could be associated more with your liver health, primarily because symptoms of giardiasis do not discontinue for a week and then return, but for your satisfaction we could go ahead with investigating the same, and other such causes relating to food or water borne infections.

Bile coloured mucous, foul smelling stool, diarrhoea, yellowish substances in your stool, etc; could all possibly point towards poor liver health due to conditions like hepatitis, once an abnormality is seen in the blood tests, an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen to give a more detailed picture of the liver would be recommended. I would thus recommend a check on your liver health, along with a complete blood profile to check on the possibility of food or water borne infections.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 hours later)
Hi. I have never encountered any hepatic issues. Just diarrhea with yellow mucous is suspected liver involvement? Could it possibly be cholecystitis or even cholelithiasis with a possible blockage in a bile duct? I am not jaundice whatsoever. Pancreatic?
I did forget to mention that a few years ago an endoscopy was performed finding multiple ulcers. I took omeprezole for a year but was never rechecked. I hardly drink alcohol and am not a hep a, b, c it d carrier. Is hepatic that much more realistic even considering my age, gender and no past history hepatic issues but large family hx of GI disorders. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
All abdominal organs worth investigating

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Yes, that was my initial suspicion.

Yes it could be ma'am.

Jaundice does not necessarily have to be seen.

Pancreas? Doubtful, but still no harm in checking.

Yes, gastric disorders worth investigating, but other abdominal organs also need to be investigated ma'am. Overall, all abdominal organs including the GIT need to be investigated to find the root cause.

Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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What Causes Severe Foul Smelling Diarrhea?

Brief Answer: ?? Suspecting poor liver health to be the more likely cause ma'am Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Although I do not see any harm in checking on and confirming/ruling out conditions like giardiasis, I feel your presentation could be associated more with your liver health, primarily because symptoms of giardiasis do not discontinue for a week and then return, but for your satisfaction we could go ahead with investigating the same, and other such causes relating to food or water borne infections. Bile coloured mucous, foul smelling stool, diarrhoea, yellowish substances in your stool, etc; could all possibly point towards poor liver health due to conditions like hepatitis, once an abnormality is seen in the blood tests, an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen to give a more detailed picture of the liver would be recommended. I would thus recommend a check on your liver health, along with a complete blood profile to check on the possibility of food or water borne infections. I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help. Best wishes.