[sigfam@cox.net]

For months now my son smells like stagnant water. It's worse after a shower. It is not the shower water. The rest of my family uses that shower and we smell good... like we just showered. Everywhere my son goes the odor follows him. He laid down on my bed and I could smell the stagnant water odor after he left the room and had to spray and dry my blanket in a hot dryer with fabric sheets. What could be causing this stagnant smell that seems worse after he showers???

[Koala77]

How awful for your son, and for you. Can your son smell the odor or are others the only ones to smell it?

Obviously this smell is heat sensitive and I can't tell you the reason for your son's condition, but you might find something here that's beneficial.

Normal sweat doesn't smell but it can give off a nasty odor if bacteria are present. A bad aroma can eminate from almost any part of the body. The mouth, skin, armpits, feet, groin, belly button, genitals are the usual sources.

Persistant bad odors often have a medical origin and should be checked by a doctor. Uncontrolled diabetes and chronic dehydration can cause ketones to be excreted in the urine and through the skin. It's possible that these ketones (ketoacidosis) could cause the smell you describe.

Kidney failure causes the retention of waste material in the bloodstream. The breath smells and the sweat glands excrete a strong urine odor, causing the whole body to smell.

Other conditions such as anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, urinary tract infections, scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), zinc deficiency, typhoid fever, and a rare metabolic disorder called fish odor syndrome, are other likely causes for bad body odor.

http://www.drkrider.com/Topics/Sympt...or,%20body.htm

These are just some of the medical conditions that can cause an unpleasant body odor. You didn't say how old your son is, so I'm not sure if these conditions would all be applicable.

If you'd prefer to try and treat the odor at home, there are plenty of websites out there with good home remedies, but please remember that no matter what his age, your son's condition is not normal, and should be checked by a doctor.

[momto5]

I agree, there's likely a medical cause to the odor. A simple blood test and/or urine test could rule out many of the conditions. Some are serious conditions, and others are relatively benign, but it would be a good idea to check it out just in case. Undiagnosed diabetes, for instance, can end up in organ damage.