How our noses detect illness

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Subtle changes in body odor can signal that someone is unwell, a phenomenon linked to the biochemical processes that occur during sickness. An experimental psychologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden led the first study to show that illness changes a person’s scent. Certain diseases result in a characteristic odor from various parts of the body of a sick individual. Recent research has identified unique scents associated with specific diseases. For instance, people with typhoid fever are said to smell like baked bread. Another well known condition, diabetes, is often associated with a scent similar to rotten apples.

Source

Gresh, Rachel. “You Can Smell When Someone’s Sick. Yes, Really.” Better Report, 8 May 2024, betterreport.com/you-can-smell-when-someones-sick/.