THE NOSE KNOWS
Posted by Dr Mike on Oct 30 2006
Okay, so my job involves meeting people in small windowless rooms. The air in these rooms doesn’t circulate well, meaning an odor penetrating the space hangs around until it’s chased away by the passing of time. If the aroma is a particularly foul one or if it seems to have the staying power of a dead skunk, we hurry its exit with a few short blasts of a better-smelling aerosol.Some of the smells are predictable and unavoidable. Take, for example, baby poop. It’s a pediatrician’s office. Babies poop. Diapers go in the trash can, and the smell drifts out. You simply have to expect it and empty trash cans often.Sometimes the smell is my fault. I have a nasty habit of eliciting strong gag reflexes in the course of obtaining throat cultures. Fortunately, my nursing staff comes to the rescue, cleaning up the splattered mess. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be so lucky at home.Then there’s a smell parents can and should avoid, but don’t: cigarette smoke. Now here’s where it gets tricky. I’m seeing a kid who’s wheezing, and the exam room smells like a bowling alley. Do I mention something or not?Body odor is another example of a preventable smell, and again the question stands tall: What do I say–if anything?And here’s one I still don’t get–litter box families. Seriously, some folks smell like cat pee. No joke. In fact, there have been times when I wander down the hall, catch a whiff, and correctly predict the child I’m about to see.Recently, I read meth labs are associated with a “cat urine” smell. This complicates things a bit. Should a doctor, or teacher for that matter (since I’m sure these kids smell the same at school), confront litter box families in some way? Should we call children’s services or law enforcement because of a particular odor? Of course, there’s no question if signs of abuse or neglect are present. But what if it’s just the smell? Then what?A pediatrician’s week is full of these and a hundred other little non-medical questions. You don’t learn the answers in medical school or residency or even in the course of your practice. Indeed, the answers may change from one day to the next, often dependent on little variables along for the ride.The art of medicine–that’s where you file these questions. It’s a big part of being a doctor. A part the nose comes to know quite well.
on 04 Dec 2006 at 2:50 pm 1 Kelly said …
Obviously I am not a doctor but to put my thought out there about the “cat urine” smell. If you really wonder if the smell is truly cat urine and not a meth lab smell, couldn’t you ask the child if he/she has a pet, like a dog or a cat, what’s it’s name. Just casual talking to see if the family really owns a cat. From my experience, my son loves to talk about our dog. That still might not solve your issue of what to do if the family doesn’t have a pet but at least you might know one way or another where the smell is coming from.
on 10 Jan 2007 at 3:40 pm 2 Mary said …
I am the mother of three small children and recently I have noticed that my own body odor smells like cat urine. I was just researching this topic on the internet and came across your post. We do not have a meth lab. We do have one cat but her litter box is well taken care of and in a remote and secluded part of the basement. Has anyone ever heard of cat urine body odor??? Is it food related?? Allergy?? Hormonal (three small kids been breast feeding for the past six and half years)??
on 15 Jul 2007 at 1:37 am 3 Angel said …
I am a 29 year old woman– no children, no major health issues. I have also noticed the “cat urine” smell on myself!!! Yack! What the heck is it?
on 02 Jan 2008 at 7:53 pm 4 Leslie said …
I too smell like cat pee… sometimes. I am 23, don’t have a cat, meth lab, or children, and my underarms have sporadically smelled like cat urine since I was about 12 years old. I have a healthy balanced diet, good hygiene, and I don’t know why this happens…
on 09 Feb 2008 at 5:31 am 5 Lisa said …
I have smelled like “ammonia” for 4 1/2 years, since I was pregnant with my son. I have since done much research, and found out some ongoing health problems of mine, are caused by the metal fillings in my teeth. The mercury in the fillings are dangerous to people that are sensitive to it. I have been diagnosed by a dentist that specializes in toxicology, and I indeed am being poisoned. It can cause a lot of havoc in your body. Your liver is constantly having to filter out impurities, and bad things in your body. I have heard sometimes when your liver is “overloaded”, it can cause this. I believe this may be by problem.
I have also read that it can be caused by the h. pylori bacteria, that causes stomach ulcers. It could also be a metabolic disorder, to do with proteins and such not being digested/burned correctly. Please research these issues and see if any of them sound similar to your problems.
on 09 Feb 2008 at 5:39 am 6 Lisa said …
Oh, and you can also research kidney problems, and candida (systematic yeast infection). In fact, if you have mercury fillings, it can CAUSE candida, liver and kidney problems, and metabolic problems, and possibly make you more likely to contract h. pylori. They can all be connected, so I urge you to get your metal fillings (if you have them) removed by a qualified professional that takes safety precautions. If you can’t find a dentist that “believes” they are causing you problems, don’t stop until you find one that does. Please trust me, this is a bigger problem than anyone would believe.
You may get in touch with me, if you’d like to discuss it further.
on 03 Jun 2008 at 5:04 pm 7 Mikey said …
I am surprised to read other women have noticed this smell. THE Smell of cat pee has been coming from me underarms since I had my first son 14 years ago. It ruins my shirts (sometimes permanently) and can smell up the bathroom if I leave a facecloth or towel hanging wet.I am going to check the things Lisa suggested. Thanks!