The odor of a patient's breath may indicate underlying disorders, especially following toxic ingestions. The absence of an odor on the breath does not exclude an ingestion.
|
Odor |
Underlying Disease |
|
acetaldehyde |
chronic alcoholism, paraldehyde |
|
acetone |
ketosis (diabetes, starvation), salicylates |
|
ammonia |
uremia |
|
foul |
poor oral hygiene, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, upper GI obstruction, tonsillar infection, nasal or sinus infections |
|
musty |
severe liver disease |
|
yeast |
local Candida infection |
|
Odor |
Ingestion |
|
alcohol |
alcohol |
|
aromatic and pungent |
paraldehyde, ethchlorvynol |
|
bananas |
chloral hydrate |
|
bitter almonds |
cyanide |
|
chloroform |
chloroform or methylchloroform |
|
garlic |
garlic, methyl mercaptan, arsenic, parathion, organophosphate, tellurium, sellenium |
|
kerosene |
parathion or organophosphate |
|
pears |
chloral hydrate |
|
solvent or volatile hydrocarbons |
solvent |
|
xylene |
parathion or organophosphate |
Specialty: Otolaryngology
ICD-10: ,
