Changes to the metabolism of the dying person can cause their breath, skin and body fluids to have a distinctive smell similar to that of nail polish remover.
Living bacteria in the body, particularly in the bowels, play a major role in this decomposition process, or putrefaction. This decay produces a very potent odor. “Even within a half hour, you can smell death in the room,” he says. “It has a very distinct smell.”
A pungent component of this scent is emitted by putrescine, a volatile diamine that results from the breakdown of fatty acids in the putrefying tissue of dead bodies (Hussain et al., 2013).
As the body bloats the microorganisms and bacteria produce extremely unpleasant odors called putrefaction. These odors often alert others that a person has died, and can linger long after a body has been removed.
Some people compare the putrid stench of a decomposing body to that of rotting meat with rotting fruit undertones. When someone dies, the body immediately begins the decomposition process and the smell of death can begin.
A corpse generally progresses through five stages of decomposition—fresh, bloat (autolysis), active decay (putrefaction), advanced decay and skeletonisation.
How Long Does the Active Stage of Dying Last? The active stage of dying generally only lasts for about 3 days. The active stage is preceded by an approximately 3-week period of the pre-active dying stage.
Necrosis: Necrosis is another common cause of wound odor. When tissues die, it begins to decompose and release foul-smelling chemicals. This type of decay typically occurs in tissues that are already damaged or infected.
To help ensure that the decomposition odors are permanently removed, set a bowl of vinegar or baking soda near the cleaned area. This will help absorb any lingering smells. Keep in mind that the bowls should be placed well out of reach of pets and young children.
Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
The pre-active phase of dying usually occurs two to three weeks prior to death. During this time, patients experience symptoms such as: Increased periods of sleep and lethargy. Withdrawal from social interaction.
Terminal agitation is typically seen during the hours or days before death and can be distressing and overwhelming for caregivers.
Gasping respiration in the dying patient is the last respiratory pattern prior to terminal apnoea. The duration of the gasping respiration phase varies; it may be as brief as one or two breaths to a prolonged period of gasping lasting minutes or even hours.
When someone is dying, their heartbeat and blood circulation slow down. The brain and organs receive less oxygen than they need and so work less well. In the days before death, people often begin to lose control of their breathing. It's common for people to be very calm in the hours before they die.
The end-of-life period—when body systems shut down and death is imminent—typically lasts from a matter of days to a couple of weeks. Some patients die gently and tranquilly, while others seem to fight the inevitable. Reassuring your loved one it is okay to die can help both of you through this process.
Final Weeks of Life
Increasing weakness and/or exhaustion. Increase in the need to sleep, having to spend the large majority of the day in bed/resting. Difficulty eating or swallowing fluids. A decrease in the patient's ability to communicate and/or concentrate.
Visions and Hallucinations
Visual or auditory hallucinations are often part of the dying experience. The appearance of family members or loved ones who have died is common. These visions are considered normal. The dying may turn their focus to “another world” and talk to people or see things that others do not see.
Physical, mental, and behavioral changes are common. In the week or two before death, the dying process speeds up. They may start being confused and periodically not making sense. Their bodily process may slow down or become erratic, but the person may also appear restless.
Some argue that a rise of neurotransmitters could be released from the brain in response to deteriorating health. Others suggest that the body might be attempting to prepare for the final stages of life or that the surge is connected to the patient's emotional state.
An accurate time of death also can help rule out possible suspects who may have been somewhere else when the death occurred and a more general time range could create a larger window for someone's alibi. This information can be used in court to establish a case.
As the blood pools, patches appear on the skin within 30 minutes of death. About two to four hours postmortem, these patches join up, creating large dark purplish areas towards the bottom of the body and lightening the skin elsewhere. This may be less apparent on darker skin. This process is called livor mortis.
The last of the stages of human decomposition, stage five, refers to what remains — only bones and scant connective tissues. If exposed to the elements, the bones eventually return to the earth and are scattered by animals. There is no specific set time frame for when skeletonization occurs.