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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Sweet Smell In The House That Causes Nausea And Diarrhea?

My family and I were on vacation for two weeks. When we got home, there was a weird, almost imperceptible sweet smell in the house. This entire week since we ve been back, we all experience bad lightheadedness, nausea, diarrhea, bad headaches and feeling the need to instantly sit or lay down or else we ll pass out (no one has passed out, but that is how the headaches and accompanying stomaches feel). As soon as we leave the house, all the symptoms immediately start to dissipate. We can t find a source of the sweet smell and it s so faint, you really can t smell it after about 10 minutes unless you go out of the house and come back inside. We live in a duplex and our neighbors are a sweet elderly couple who have birds, the grandkids visit often and the husband still works everyday. The other side of us is a vacant lot. What could be going on? We have 2 toddlers and I m really getting worried about what we re breathing.
Tue, 16 Sep 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
This is Dr. Klarida Papaqako answering your question.

My thoughts about your query are:
-- Coming after a vacation where activity is higher and exposure to sun is also higher, makes possible for the body to lose more fluids and the risk of getting dehydrated. Symptoms you describe are those of dehydration, which cause concentrated sweat more prone to stick to the skin and help grow of bacteria in body with the result of bad smell.
I would recommend to drink plenty of fluids, and add more fruits and vegetables in your diet in the next days.
-- Also, fabrics (including carpeting, towels, bathmats etc) absorb odors and also provide a place for bacterial to grow. Using antibacterial soaps and detergents might help.

Hope information helps.
Take care.
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What Causes Sweet Smell In The House That Causes Nausea And Diarrhea?

Hello, This is Dr. Klarida Papaqako answering your question. My thoughts about your query are: -- Coming after a vacation where activity is higher and exposure to sun is also higher, makes possible for the body to lose more fluids and the risk of getting dehydrated. Symptoms you describe are those of dehydration, which cause concentrated sweat more prone to stick to the skin and help grow of bacteria in body with the result of bad smell. I would recommend to drink plenty of fluids, and add more fruits and vegetables in your diet in the next days. -- Also, fabrics (including carpeting, towels, bathmats etc) absorb odors and also provide a place for bacterial to grow. Using antibacterial soaps and detergents might help. Hope information helps. Take care.