Rotten egg burps can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose rotten egg burps, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Heartburn | 99% | Confirm |
Food Allergies | 19% | Unlikely |
Bacterial Dysbiosis | 14% | Unlikely |
Giardia | 3% | Ruled out |
Overconsumption | 1% | Ruled out |
Gluten Sensitivity | 1% | Ruled out |
Stress | 1% | Ruled out |
Helicobacter Pylori Infection | 1% | Ruled out |
Do you ever suffer from very foul burps that can best be described as having a 'rotten egg' or 'sulfur' smell/taste?
Possible responses:
→ No / rarely / don't know→ Yes, but only if I eat too much → Yes, a few times a year even if I don't overeat → Yes, a few times a month even if I don't overeat → Yes, frequently even if I don't overeat |
If you suffer from sulfur burps and gas you may have a problem in the gallbladder or small intestine. Rotten egg burps are caused by hydrogen sulfide gas which is produced by gut bacteria when certain types of food pass through the digestive system. When gallstones block the bile duct and prevent bile from helping to digest fatty foods, gas may be produced due to incomplete digestion.
Recurrent "rotten-egg" burps accompanied by diarrhea could be a sign of Giardia lamblia infection.