Foul-smelling stools are usually associated with what you eat, but may be a sign of a medical condition.

Stools normally have an unpleasant odor, but one that is recognized as fairly common. Stools that have an extremely bad, out-of-the-ordinary odor may be associated with certain medical conditions. Foul-smelling stools also have normal causes, most notably diet.

Foul-smelling stools may occur in conjunction with floating stools.

• Cystic fibrosis
• Gluten-induced enteropathy (sprue, celiac disease)
• Malabsorption
• Idiopathic steatorrhea (fatty stools with no known cause)
• Disaccharidase deficiency
• Short bowel syndrome
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Infections of the large intestine
• Chronic pancreatitis

Home care depends on the specific diagnosis. Follow your health care provider's instructions closely, and adhere strictly to prescribed diets. If you have diarrhea, make sure to increase your water intake to avoid dehydration.