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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Sweet Smelling Stool?

Hello Dr. I am a 66 year old woman in very good health, as far as I know. I take an asthma puffer occasionally but, otherwise, take no medication. I eat a varied diet and include all the food groups. I try to avoid sugar, but I do love pastries! Last year I experienced what I think was a very serious viral infection that resulted in a very high fever, fast beating heart and loss of my sense of taste and smell. The latter two senses are just slowly returning. I have experienced a sugary odor to my feces ever since. My digestion seems good, with regular bowel movements, regular consistency and light to medium brown coloured stool. My weight is 160 and I am 5 ft 5 1/2 inches tall. Could the sugary smell come from developing diabetes or is it a function of damaged smell receptors from the fever?
posted on Sun, 16 Nov 2014
Twitter Fri, 9 Oct 2015 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 9 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Welcome to health care majic. Sometimes viral infections can affect your taste and smell. If at all your taste and smell are affected, you will observe this all the time and not alone with stools.

Altered smell in the stool alone could be from food. See if you have changed your food habits. particular type of food can affect your stools. Sugary smell to the stool is no way related to diabetes. You are 66 and I would certainly recommend you to check your fasting blood sugars to diagnose diabetes.

We suggest checking fasting blood sugars after 35 years of age to look for diabetes and glucose intolerance. This is to prevent serious complications and diagnoses diabetes early.

Hence if you have not had the diabetes checkup in the last 1 year, I would strongly advise you to check fasting blood sugars.

good luck
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What Causes Sweet Smelling Stool?

Welcome to health care majic. Sometimes viral infections can affect your taste and smell. If at all your taste and smell are affected, you will observe this all the time and not alone with stools. Altered smell in the stool alone could be from food. See if you have changed your food habits. particular type of food can affect your stools. Sugary smell to the stool is no way related to diabetes. You are 66 and I would certainly recommend you to check your fasting blood sugars to diagnose diabetes. We suggest checking fasting blood sugars after 35 years of age to look for diabetes and glucose intolerance. This is to prevent serious complications and diagnoses diabetes early. Hence if you have not had the diabetes checkup in the last 1 year, I would strongly advise you to check fasting blood sugars. good luck