Fish Odor Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Causes and Symptoms

This rare metabolic disease that is caused by a particular gene mutation is called Trimethylaminuria, or Fish Odor Syndrome in layman's terms. The illness is usually inherited when both parents have at least one copy each of the mutated gene. The problem manifests because the body is incapable of metabolizing the compound which is considered to be the derivative of protein digestion. Therefore one can categorize that this illness is hereditary if both partners carry at least one gene each. The symptoms are obvious, given the name of the illness itself. Usually, they are manifested through the breath of the person, since the mouth has a permanent fishy odor; the sweat is smelly and other parts of the body like the armpits, vaginal area and the feet emit fumes. In addition to this there is a definite case of elevated high blood pressure after consuming certain foods accompanied by an increased heart rate, permanent depression, panic attacks after going out in public, lack of self confidence, et al.

Women are most prone to the disorder where there is a strong odor before and after periods, during menopause as well as during birth control medication. To test whether the patient has the illness, a urine test over a period of 24 hours is conducted to ascertain whether the amine-N-oxide chemical compound is deficient. In addition to this, blood tests are conducted to test the enzyme to gauge whether it is dysfunctional.

Preventive Measures

After the diagnosis the doctor has to work through the illness with the patient to help her deal with the problem on hand. The negative is that there is not yet a cure that is available at the present time, but there is research being conducted to figure out a solution to this most embarrassing problem. Nevertheless, there are ways to tackle the symptoms, such as cutting back on certain choline- rich foods - like eggs, cauliflower, peanuts, flaxseeds, potatoes, sardines, shrimps, grass- fed beef, lentils, sesame seeds, butter, chicken, turkey, scallops etc. In addition to this, cutting back on sulfur-infused foods such as onions, garlic, chocolate, grain, corn and sunflower; nitrogen- rich foods and high protein products like sausages, red meat, milk products and legumes etc can relieve the condition. During this period, it is advisable to meet with a qualified nutritionist and dietician to figure out what one canconsume! Doctors also ensure that they provide a course of antibiotics to try and do away or correct the bacteria evident in the gut and even out the score. In addition to this, it is important to use certain soaps with a higher pH level to help the patient deal with the constant odor.

It would also be a good idea to use a good brand of deodorant to enable the sufferer to deal with this constant smell. At times, it is important to encourage the person to express her feelings to a qualified expert. This might help deal with the problem as well as enable the patient to feel better about herself and avoid recurring depression.