We hear a lot about “invisible illness” and how young people with autism are judged or stared at because of their behavior.
But what if your teenager’s illness meant they looked normal, but smelled unpleasant?
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU), formerly called Fish Odor Syndrome, is a rare disease where the body lacks enough enzymes to break down trimethylamine, present in most foods. No matter how often people living with TMAU shower or manage their personal hygiene, a fish like, rotten odor comes out from their body from the trimethylamine.
TMAU tends to appear in adolescence. The affected person is for the most part rejected by his or her classmates and peers, and usually in a very cruel manner resulting in social isolation. When it strikes a teenager and occurs during school age years, it can be devastating to emotional development. In adulthood, most are harassed in the workplace for the same reason, and are usually the first to lose their jobs, no matter their performance. Many ultimately have resorted to dependency on social benefits.
This rejection leads to isolation, depression and anxiety that prevent the affected person from being a productive member in society (Source: MEBO Research). Young people with TMAU need support and often find it online. One person of our RareConnect TMAU community said, “I'm mentally exhausted I can't go to social places as first no one invites me and second when I even go shopping or to a restaurant people ask I be thrown out.”
Current treatment protocol for TMAU sufferers is not effective for all, and that's assuming they are even able to find a doctor who knows the disease. It includes a specific, restricted low choline diet; dietary supplements and a cycle of antibiotic therapy.
One member of the TMAU community said, "It is an obsession of mine to find a supplement, soap or hormone product that is a cure all. I don't think there is one. Food control helps sometimes, but not always, so why bother?"
The problem is, choline is an essential nutrient, and avoiding it in foods can lead to unintended consequences. Those on the diet can suffer dizzy spells, a weakened immune system and severe lethargy as a result of following the restrictive diet. It is not effective in reducing the odor for everyone and they can also feel depressed from lack of nutrients as well as rejection.
On RareConnect, they find a safe space, moderated by patient group representatives, where individuals and families affected by rare diseases can connect with each other, share vital experiences, and find helpful information and resources. People from as far away as Kenya, India and the Philippines have met others from their country in the TMAU community. Though perhaps ostracized in their local community, they are understood on the web. People share information on foods, supplements, testing, hygiene products, and most importantly, advocating that their condition be recognized at school or at work.
About rare diseases
A disease is defined as rare in Europe when it affects less than 1 in 2000 people. One rare disease may affect only a handful of patients in the EU, and another touch as many as 245,000. (Source: EURORDIS) Due to under diagnosis and misdiagnosis, we really can’t be sure of the number of people living with many rare diseases. We think of rare diseases as disparate conditions with names like: Epidermolysis bullosa, Dravet syndrome, or Familial Mediterranean fever. But the challenges people living with some of the 6,000 rare diseases are strikingly similar: on average 7 years to get a diagnosis, lack of specialists, being labelled a hypochondriac, no effective treatments available, and not recognized or understood very well by society.
EURORDIS leads the flagship annual Rare Disease Day® campaign.
- Join the discussions that are connecting the rarest of rare diseases - September 16, 2016
- The pain of finding acceptance with Apert syndrome, a facial difference - September 26, 2014
- How Jonah’s parents are connecting families with his rare disease -and how you can too - May 23, 2014
I remember a boy when I was at school who, with hindsight, must have had this condition. He was completely ostracised and bullied by his peers and spent the days which he was at school completely alone. Raising awareness of this can only be a positive step forward for sufferers of this condition.
This is really apt for us at mo – Matty (he’s 12 and on the Autistic Spectrum) came home last week and in one of our chats told me about a lad in his school who has bad body odour and he has a ‘condition’ making him smell…… My son told me that he will be his friend as he knows he can’t help it and that he understands what it’s like to have no friends….. I think it’s a real insightful into how my Matty considers others in this way – a lot could be learnt from him I think x
I met a someone with this condition a couple of years ago and he had struggled socially through school and college because of it. He now experiences ongoing symptoms of social anxiety, low self esteem and depression because of these experiences. An online supportive community is an invaluable asset for people with this isolating and rare disease – good to be aware of for future reference.
Thanks for your comments. We have 45 other rare disease communities at RareConnect.org
If you ever want to create a community with us for your rare disease, please let me know.
A very difficult and sensitive condition to deal with. Thank you for highlighting and educating me. Hayley