Trimethylaminuria ('fish odour syndrome')
What are the signs and symptoms?
If you havetrimethylaminuria, the chemical trimethylamine builds up in your body and you'll give off a strong odour in your sweat, urine, saliva and vaginal fluids.There are usually no other symptoms.
Some people have a strong odour all the time but, in most cases, it varies in intensity over time.
The smell usually first becomes apparent in childhood when children are weaned.This is because certain foodsare responsible for the odour(see below).However, it sometimes starts in adulthood.
Some children with trimethylaminuria may only have a temporary form of the disorder that suddenly clears after months or years.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Trimethylaminuria is an uncommon genetic disorder that causes a strong body odour usually described as like rotting fish, faeces or garbage
What are the signs and symptoms?
If you havetrimethylaminuria, the chemical trimethylamine builds up in your body and you'll give off a strong odour in your sweat, urine, saliva and vaginal fluids.There are usually no other symptoms.
What is the cause?
The bacteria in our bowel help us to digest foods such as eggs, beans and seafood. In the process, they produce a strong-smelling chemical called trimethylamine. Normally, an enzyme (protein) called
How is trimethylaminuria diagnosed?
Trimethylaminuria is diagnosed with a urine test that measures the ratio of trimethylamine (the fishy-smelling chemical) to trimethylamine N-oxide (the odourless version). If you havetrimethylaminuri
Information about you
If you or your child hastrimethylaminuria, your clinical team will pass information about you/your childon to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This he
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products