When a toddler's poop smells strongly like mothballs, it is often due to diet changes, gut bacteria fermenting undigested food, or constipation. While this smell can be quite potent, it is frequently temporary and harmless.
A Salmonella infection typically causes watery, often explosive diarrhea that has an unusually strong, putrid, or rotten odor. The foul smell is produced by the bacteria rapidly fermenting compounds in your gut, while the body struggles to properly digest food and absorb water.
Crohn's stool typically has an unusually intense, foul, or "rotten egg" smell due to excess sulfur. Because Crohn's impairs digestion, it can cause malabsorption—resulting in oily, greasy stools (steatorrhea) that smell particularly noxious—or create a metallic, chemical odor if there is gastrointestinal bleeding.
Bacteria buildup in the mouth is one of the most common causes of bad breath. When bacteria are not removed by regular brushing and flossing, they can break down food particles and release sulfur compounds, which may cause a smell reminiscent of mothballs.
Parasite poop—especially from infections like Giardia—smells unusually foul, putrid, and rotten. The odor is often much stronger than typical diarrhea, featuring a sharp sulfur or rotten egg smell caused by excess undigested fat and fermentation in the gut.
Stool that smells like mothballs is typically caused by the breakdown of specific protein compounds in your gut—known as skatole and indole—or certain methyl sulfides. This unusual scent is most commonly tied to diet, dehydration, constipation, or poor digestion, but it can occasionally signal a medical issue.
Intestinal parasites and their eggs in poop range from microscopic, invisible organisms to large worms. In most cases, what you see with the naked eye are dead or living adult worms or segments of them.
The pungent, sickly-sweet smell of mothballs comes from the active chemicals they are made of—either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These active ingredients are solids at room temperature that slowly turn directly into a toxic gas, a process called sublimation.
In kids, diabetes-related breath often smells sweet, fruity, or like acetone (nail polish remover or pear drop candy). This distinct scent occurs because the body is forced to burn fat for energy instead of glucose, creating byproducts called ketones.
The chemicals in mothballs are toxic to humans and pets. People are exposed to the chemicals in mothballs by inhaling the fumes. If you smell mothballs, you are being exposed to these chemicals. Children or pets sometimes mistake mothballs for food or candy and eat them, which can cause serious effects.
C. diff (Clostridioides difficile) diarrhea has an infamously distinct, intense, and foul odor. It is frequently described as an unusually strong, pungent, or "sickeningly sweet" smell. Many people also compare it to rotting fruit, spoiled milk, or a dirty barnyard.
Pancreatitis (and related pancreatic issues) typically causes stool that smells unusually foul, sour, rotten, or chemically sharp. Because a damaged pancreas struggles to produce digestive enzymes, undigested fat passes through your system, resulting in stool that is often greasy, pale, and floats in the toilet.
The "poop rule" usually refers to a viral home-organization and decluttering hack, though it can also describe medical guidelines for digestive health.
During an E. coli infection, stool typically starts as watery brown or yellow, but often transitions to bright red. The most common diarrhea-causing strains (like Shiga toxin-producing E. coli) damage the intestinal lining, resulting in bloody diarrhea that is sometimes described as "all blood and no stool".
While all stool has an odor due to gut bacteria digesting food, unhealthy stool often produces an overpowering, sickeningly sweet, putrid, or metallic "rotten blood" smell. These intense odors can indicate infections, malabsorption, or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially when paired with a change in color or consistency.
The first warning signs of Salmonella typically mimic the stomach flu and appear 6 hours to 6 days after exposure. Initial symptoms often include a combination of the following:
Early signs of diabetes in toddlers usually develop suddenly and can easily be mistaken for a typical stomach bug or growth spurt. The easiest way to recognize them is by remembering the 4 Ts: Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, and Thinner.
Ketones typically have a strong, sweet, and fruity scent that many people compare to acetone or nail polish remover. Others describe the odor as being intensely sweet, similar to overripe fruit, rotten apples, or even artificial fruit-flavored candies.
Five early warning signs of diabetes include extreme thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, severe fatigue, and blurred vision. These symptoms occur as your body struggles to properly process and store glucose (sugar) for energy.
The distinct, pungent smell of mothballs comes from active chemical ingredients—naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene—that sublimate directly from solid pellets into toxic gas. This unmistakable odor can also be generated by several other surprising sources:
If you smell mothballs but don't see any, it is typically caused by trapped residual odors in your home or a sensory condition called phantosmia.
Liver failure causes a specific, distinct breath odor known as fetor hepaticus, often described as a sweet, musty aroma that resembles a mix of rotten eggs, garlic, and sometimes raw fish or feces.
Parasitic infections can be surprisingly stealthy, often masquerading as common gut issues, skin conditions, or general fatigue. The most subtle signs include persistent and unexplained digestive changes, intense nighttime itching, chronic fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, and recurring skin irritations.
The first signs of stomach worms often include mild, unexplained stomach cramps, bloating, and unexpected changes in appetite (constant hunger or a loss of interest in food). You may also experience persistent gastrointestinal distress or fatigue as your body reacts to the parasite.
When you have an intestinal parasite, you most commonly crave sugar, carbohydrates, and junk food. Parasites consume your body's nutrients and can alter your gut signaling to trick you into feeding them their preferred fuel sources.