KM Viray
10. Trimethylaminuria or “Fish Odor Syndrome”
Imagine coming out of the shower after using your favorite apple-scented shampoo and minty soap and yet minutes after, you smell like fish even before you’ve stepped out of the bathroom. Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound that has a pungent odor. Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotting fish, rotting eggs, garbage, or urine, depending on many known factors, including diet, hormonal changes, stress level, amount of sweat, other odors in the environment, and individual sense of smell. The condition seems to be more common in women than men, for unknown reasons.
There is no known cure or treatment for the disorder. People affected by the disorder live relatively normal lives by managing their symptoms and with counseling. When the condition is suspected or known to occur in families, it would be best to have all family members tested as this can be passed down from one generation to the next.
