Scent of Feces

[Calliope33021]

What would cause human feces to have a mothball-like scent?

[boron]

If you think the changed smell is not due to changed diet, or some medication or supplements, I'd suggest a stool test for parasites.

[bduffy777]

why would you suggest a parasite?  what's the science that you think it would be related to a parasitic infection?

i have the mothball scent and, for me, it goes with inflammation and a distended stomach and loose, gross bowel movements. i have had this for a few years. it seems to be autoimmune (i have some other issues) and also triggered by certain foods.  that's my experience but i haven't gotten an answer as to why it happens. i have had about fifteen episodes over the past five years of where my stomach blew up for 2-3 months at a time. literally looked like i was pregnant and i had "love handles" (i'm thin) and a distended stomach from the top down to the bottom of my intestines. this is always accompanied with soreness in my stomach, gross, large and frequent bowel movements that smell horrible. just the past three years has the mothball smell started happening with this. during one of these episodes, i put on ten pounds in one week (I'm 5'5 and 110-112 lbs normally). no exaggeration -- had an x-ray done and my intestine was full of stool. had a colonoscopy done and hardly went to the bathroom. still have no answers at the moment. it's frustrating. i can no longer eat anything spicy or any form of dark chocolate. the latter seems to immediately cause a sore stomach and this issue. five of the times it was triggered from eating a dark chocolate bar.

yeah, seems weird.  but those are the facts.

[specialmom]

I think why someone, not to speak for the person you are addressing, would say a feces smell may be due to a parasite is because having a parasite does often come with that odor.  

Moth balls are a bit different though.  I wonder about bacteria for you.  Moth ball scent is often associated with bacteria.

[TPick1]

My husband has had a permanent colostomy (with a Ken Butt) for almost 5 years. He had e-coli a few weeks ago, and he had to have an infusion of high dose antibiotic every morning for 7 days. Just a few days ago his poop from the stoma smells like mothballs. Have no idea why!

[specialmom]

There is like a science to poop smell.  I had a major issue after long time antibiotic usage and had an odor like no other during that time. C dif can be detected purely by the odor.  Moth ball smelling poop is said to be the byproduct or gas caused by gut inflammation.  

[Calliope33021]

No, there have been no other symptoms...just a strong mothball scent.

[boron]

Any other symptoms - diarrhea, mucus, blood in the stool?

Could be parasites.
Clostridium difficile overgrowth causes barnyard smell....