'Fish odour syndrome' is an unfortunate condition with no cure that can affect how a person smells.
Rare Diseases describe the condition as a "rare metabolic disorder".
They said: "More than 100 cases have been reported in the medical literature. Some clinicians believe that the disorder is underdiagnosed since many people with mild symptoms do not seek help.
"However, some physicians do not recognize the symptoms of trimethylaminuria when a person with body odour seeks a diagnosis."
People who suffer from the syndrome are particularly unfortunate.
Of all the strange condition s that can cause people to be unfairly shunned by others in society, fish odour syndrome is one of the worst a person can experience.
So what is fish odour syndrome?
What is fish odour syndrome and how is it caused?
Fish odour syndrome's proper name is 'trimethylaminuria', which is a bit of a mouthful so we will stick with what we know.
Symptoms of the condition can be present from birth, but they generally don't tend to appear until later in life, often around puberty.
It only has one symptom, which is particularly unpleasant. A smell of rotting fish or something similar and can affect the following parts of the body:
- breath
- sweat
- pee
- vaginal fluids
What is auto-brewery syndrome? Rare illness means sufferers get drunk off food
The NHS explained the cause of the syndrome. They said: "In trimethylaminuria, the body is unable to turn a strong-smelling chemical called trimethylamine – produced in the gut when bacteria break down certain foods – into a different chemical that doesn't smell."
"This means trimethylamine builds up in the body and gets into bodily fluids like sweat.
"In some cases, this is caused by a faulty gene a person has inherited from their parents."
Symptoms tend to come and go and can be made worse by excessive sweating and periods.
What is it like to have fish odour syndrome?
Paula Thomas, from Bristol, bravely told the BBC of her experience.
She compared the condition to being like "living with a death sentence".
She said: "It's like living with a death sentence – I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, it's that bad.
Dominatrix mortified as 14st client passes out on a cross during kinky session
"The discrimination, the harassment, the anxiety and the smell itself is just horrible."
Paula said that the condition had led her to receive racist abuse.
"I didn't get to go to my little girl's nativity play, even though I wanted to so much, because I was really anxious about being in a crowded place. I've lived half of my life clean, smelling nice and then one day you wake up stinking and you don't know the cause.
"I feel so isolated, it's horrible."
How can fish odour syndrome be cured and what foods should you avoid?
You should contact your GP if you notice a strong smell that does not go away.
The condition can be inherited and sadly, there isn't a cure. However, people with the condition are advised by the NHS to avoid the following foods.
- Cows' milk
- Eeafood and shellfish – freshwater fish is fine
- Eggs
- Beans
- Peanuts
- Liver and kidney
- Supplements containing lecithin
It is also suggested that people avoid strenuous exercise that doesn't make a person sweat quite as much. Relaxing is also important as stress can make the symptoms worse.
Clothes should be washed frequently along with use of slightly acidic shampoo or soap and deodorant.
Source: Read Full Article