Rotten Fish Odor Syndrome, also called Trimethylaminuria, is a rare syndrome characterized by a strong, rotten fish-like smell in body secretions, such as sweat, saliva, urine and vaginal secretions, for example, which can cause discomfort and embarrassment. for the person.
Due to the strong smell, people who have the syndrome tend to bathe frequently, change their underwear several times a day and use very strong perfumes, which do not always help to improve the odor. In these cases, it is recommended to control the syndrome through diet, in which foods that originate the substance trimethylamine, such as fish and egg yolk, for example, should be avoided.
Trimethylaminuria symptoms
The only symptom related to this syndrome is the smell of rotten fish that is exhaled from the body, mainly through sweat, breath, urine, expired air and vaginal secretions, for example. Symptoms can appear even in childhood, when the child stops breastfeeding and starts to eat a normal diet, and can worsen during adolescence, especially during menstruation, and can also get worse with the use of contraceptives.
Usually those who have this syndrome tend to take several baths throughout the day, constantly change their clothes and even avoid living with other people. This happens due to the embarrassment that happens when the smell is perceived and commented, for example, which can also favor the development of psychological problems, such as anxiety or depression.
The diagnosis of Fish Odor Syndrome is made by means of blood test, scraping of the mucous membrane of the mouth or urine test in order to verify the concentration of the substance responsible for the unpleasant odor, trimethylamine.
Why does rotten fish odor syndrome happen?
Rotten fish odor syndrome is a genetic disease in which there is a deficiency in a compound in the body responsible for degrading trimethylamine, which is a nutrient found mainly in fish, shellfish, liver, peas and egg yolk, for example. This causes this substance to accumulate in the body and be exhaled from the body, since it is a volatile substance.
However, despite being mainly caused by genetic changes, some people who do not have this change may experience this symptom when they take drugs that cause the accumulation of trimethylamine, such as Tamoxifen, Ketoconazole, Sulindaco, Benzidamine and Rosuvastatin.
In addition, during menstrual periods or due to stressful situations, fever, increased intestinal flora, excessive fish consumption or liver or kidney problems, people without the syndrome may also have this bad smell, and it is important to identify the cause.
How is the treatment
This syndrome has no cure and its treatment is done to control and reduce the bad smell, by reducing the consumption of foods that increase this symptom, such as those rich in the nutrient choline, which are fish, seafood, meat, liver, peas, beans, soybeans, dried fruits, egg yolk, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. See the amount of choline in food.
However, it is important to remember that pregnant women should not restrict these foods from the diet, as some fish, for example, are important for the development of the baby's nervous system, being important to be consumed during pregnancy even if there is an increase in smell.
In addition, antibiotics can also be used to control the intestinal flora, which is responsible for the odor of fish. Other tips to neutralize the smell are using soaps with pH between 5.5 and 6.5, goat's milk soap, skin creams with pH around 5.0, washing clothes frequently and taking activated charcoal tablets, according to medical recommendation. To relieve the smell, also see how to treat the smell of sweat.
