5 Deadly Diseases that can be diagnosed by Smell

• Image Credit: Internet

• May 11, 2023 | Kabir Chakraborty

According to research, lung cancer can be identified by smell using the "NaNose," a breathalyser device with up to 90% accuracy.

Digital
Desk: Body odour can
indicate a great deal about a person. According to health professionals, a
specific fragrance emerging from you can determine if you have an underlying
health concern.

Doctors have long
recognised that some illnesses, many of which are deadly and severe, such as
cancer, multiple sclerosis, typhoid, diabetes, and even Parkinson's, have a
distinct odour emanating from the patient.

According to experts,
any illness creates a shift in metabolic processes in the body, which results
in the formation of tiny volatile molecules. They are carried by the blood
to the lungs and expelled through exhaled air, urine, and perspiration.

 Oxford University Press
defines disease-specific Volatile organic molecules have the potential to be
employed as diagnostic biomarkers for infectious diseases, metabolic
abnormalities, genetic disorders, and other diseases. 

Diseases detectable with olfaction

Doctors can diagnose the following diseases through smell:

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia, or pregnancy-related elevated blood pressure, is
one of the first signs of the potentially fatal eclampsia, which produces
severe convulsions with periods of trembling, confusion, and disorientation,
usually around the 20th week of pregnancy.

Researchers were able to diagnose pre-eclampsia with 84%
accuracy using a mother's breath print, which is akin to a fingerprint,
according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental
Research and Public Health. 

According to doctors, eclampsia is an uncommon illness that affects
less than 3% of women with preeclampsia.

Lung cancer

According to research, lung cancer can be identified by smell
using the "NaNose," a breathalyser device with up to 90% accuracy.

The technology, created by an Israeli company, can detect
volatile chemical molecules that easily evaporate into the air and produce a
distinct fragrance signature.

Kidney problems

Researchers at the University of Illinois have devised a
disposable gadget that can detect the breath print of kidney illnesses,
including failure, according to a report published in the National Library of
Medicine.

According
to the study, there is a high frequency of poor nutritional status in renal
disease, as well as the significance of scent perception in nutrition and
health.

Liver
failure

When
your breath has a strong, musty odour, you have liver failure, also known as
fetor hepaticus. According to doctors, it is a significant indication that your
liver is not functioning properly and is having difficulty filtering out
hazardous compounds.

Due
to a problem, sulphur enters your bloodstream and then your lungs, generating a
characteristic odour that can be adequately diagnosed.

If
you have a liver problem, your breath will smell like rotten eggs and garlic,
according to doctors.

Diabetes

If you have diabetes, a change in body odour could be an
indication of ketoacidosis. It is a disorder in which your blood becomes acidic
and your body smell is fruity due to elevated ketone levels.

Doctors warn that if not detected and treated promptly, it can
escalate to potentially deadly ketoacidosis.