Intense fish-scented urine is often a sign of fish-scent syndrome, also known as trimethylaminuria. It is a rare syndrome characterized by a strong fishy smell in body secretions, such as sweat, saliva, urine, and vaginal secretions, for example, that can cause a lot of discomfort and discomfort.
Because of the strong smell, people with the syndrome tend to bathe frequently, change their underwear several times a day, and use very strong aromas, which don’t always help improve the smell. In these cases, it is recommended to control the syndrome through the diet, in which foods that cause the substance trimethylamine, such as fish and egg yolk, should be avoided, for example.
- This syndrome is caused by a genetic change that causes a deficiency in a compound in the body responsible for the degradation of trimethylamine.
- Which is a nutrient present mainly in fish.
- Crustaceans.
- Liver.
- Peas and egg yolk.
- For example.
- This causes the accumulation of this substance in the body and the exhalation of the body.
- Because it is a substance that evaporates.
However, although they are mainly caused by genetic changes, some people who do not have this change may also experience similar symptoms when taking medications that cause a buildup of trimethylamine, such as tamoxifen, ketoconazole, sulindac, benzidamine, and rosuvastatin, for example. .
The only symptom associated with this syndrome is the smell of rotten fish that is exhaled from the body, mainly from body secretions such as sweat, breath, urine, exhaled air and vaginal secretions, for example. Symptoms can occur even in childhood, when the child stops breastfeeding and begins to follow a normal diet, and may worsen during adolescence, especially during menstruation, and may also worsen with contraceptive use.
People with this syndrome usually take several baths throughout the day, constantly change clothes, and even avoid living with others. This is caused by the discomfort that occurs when the smell is noticed and commented, for example, which can also promote the development of psychological problems, such as anxiety or depression.
Diagnosis of fish odor syndrome is made by a blood test, scraping the oral mucosa or analyzing the concentration of the substance responsible for the unpleasant odor, trimethylamine.
This syndrome has no cure and its treatment is done to control and reduce odor, reducing the consumption of foods that increase this symptom, such as those rich in nutritional choline, such as fish, seafood, meats, liver, peas, beans, soy, nuts, egg yolk, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. See the amount of choline in the 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 consume them during pregnancy even in case of increased odor.
In addition, antibiotics can also be used to control the intestinal flora, which is responsible for the smell of fish. Other tips for neutralizing the odor are the use of soaps with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, goat’s milk soap, skin creams with a pH close to 5.0, frequent washes and taking activated charcoal pills. , according to medical recommendation. To relieve the smell, also see how to treat the smell of sweat.