Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My 4 year old has been drinking a lot of water and his mouth smells like acid like a battery acid what could this be?

290 replies

alpop · 13/11/2024 13:09

The past two days I've really noticed how much water (with a tiny bit dilution juice) he is drinking. He's asking me a lot for more. He will down it then ask for another one

His mouth smells like an acidic smell like battery acid. I have no better way of explaining it. It's smelt like that since yesterday. His older sisters have noticed it too and said he smells weird

He's well otherwise. He was running a lot today and has been at his nursery.

He's maybe eating slightly more. But he's completely well other wise

Diabetes runs in my family. My brother is type 1 and was really unwell at 5 years old. My mum didn't notice anything until he was passing out then admitted to hospital.

Does anyone have any ideas??

OP posts:
stichguru · 13/11/2024 19:42

Diabetes runs in your family. Your child has symptoms of diabetes. Stop asking random people what could be wrong and go to the doctor!

LivinInYourBigGlassHouseWithAView · 13/11/2024 19:26

Hope he's been seen and is okay, OP.

Tahlbias · 13/11/2024 19:09

I hope you get some answers OP!

Alcardo · 13/11/2024 19:09

Yes you should all definitely shout at OP. That will help.

Badgerandfox227 · 13/11/2024 19:06

How is your son OP? We have diabetes in our family so always looking out for it as well

UsernameNameUser · 13/11/2024 19:01

TheShellBeach · 13/11/2024 19:00

OP took him to the doctor this afternoon.

Show quote history

Oh brilliant, I hadn’t read through the whole thread 🙈 Silly of me, really!

TheShellBeach · 13/11/2024 19:00

UsernameNameUser · 13/11/2024 18:58

Another concerned poster chiming in with have him checked for diabetes

OP took him to the doctor this afternoon.

UsernameNameUser · 13/11/2024 19:00

WillowTit · 13/11/2024 18:51

isnt it normally a smell of peardrops

Acid, sugar, even alcohol can all be scents noticed in a diabetes patient’s breath

UsernameNameUser · 13/11/2024 18:58

Another concerned poster chiming in with have him checked for diabetes

WillowTit · 13/11/2024 18:51

isnt it normally a smell of peardrops

fluffiny31 · 13/11/2024 18:50

Hope all went well. My daughter was tested for diabetes due to this. But also water diabetes aswell which I didn't even know was a thing. Luckily everything was OK but her electrolytes were well out and kidneys were struggling so had to really reduce the amount and had weekly blood tests.

ToriMJ · 13/11/2024 18:43

Hope you got on ok and got some answers op

CrazyCatLady008 · 13/11/2024 18:43

@DexysMidniteRunners my son was sent home by a&e doctors despite being in DKA. People do miss symptoms. No need to judge like that.

paddyclampster · 13/11/2024 18:42

I got T1 at age 10. Was very thirsty and smelt of fruit! I can’t say I was otherwise well though, as I was extremely tired.

coffeesaveslives · 13/11/2024 18:40

BigManLittleDignity · 13/11/2024 17:10

Posts classic T1D symptoms, mentions family history if T1D and then asks what it is?!
Seriously?!
Your child need urgent medical care. It was clear this wasn’t an urgent GP appt, it needed addressing as soon as you noticed symptoms.

OP was probably well-aware of what it was, but was either hoping for someone to say it wasn't, or to reassure her that she was doing the right thing.

T1D is a scary diagnosis.

MyDeftDuck · 13/11/2024 18:40

As others have said, this could be diabetes so you really need to get him seen by a GP as soon as possible but A & E would be my first port of call - children 'plateau' when they are sick........and then they deteriorate rapidly. Get the little man seen by a Doctor today.
And I hope everything is ok for him

BigManLittleDignity · 13/11/2024 18:39

BarbaraHoward · 13/11/2024 18:18

How clear headed do you think if your child was showing T1 symptoms? Because I think I would be in disbelief and may well post on here as a sense check.

Show quote history

But MN is full of people who don’t understand and might suggest things that are dangerous. Just wouldn’t want a child to be put at risk of harm! OP clearly understands it might be T1D based on her mentioning it. The child’s health is what matters.

HollyKnight · 13/11/2024 18:37

Eating more, drinking more, and ketone breath are not early T1DM symptoms. They are very much the most obvious, textbook symptoms.

Missmarplesknittingbuddy · 13/11/2024 18:33

DexysMidniteRunners · 13/11/2024 17:57

You have diabetes in the family, yet asking random folk on MN what to do? Jesus wept...

Show quote history

Yes that is exactly what this parent needs , judgement and criticism from you . Even healthcare professionals miss early T1D and Ops brother was diagnosed aged 5 so it is unlikely he or the OP remember pre diagnosis symptoms .

Bimblesalong · 13/11/2024 18:20

Glad you got a fast appointment. Well wishes coming from me, my son was diagnosed 17 years ago 💐

BarbaraHoward · 13/11/2024 18:18

BigManLittleDignity · 13/11/2024 17:10

Posts classic T1D symptoms, mentions family history if T1D and then asks what it is?!
Seriously?!
Your child need urgent medical care. It was clear this wasn’t an urgent GP appt, it needed addressing as soon as you noticed symptoms.

How clear headed do you think if your child was showing T1 symptoms? Because I think I would be in disbelief and may well post on here as a sense check.

hopeishere · 13/11/2024 18:06

Hope he's ok. Does sound like diabetes.

MyrtleStrumpet · 13/11/2024 18:03

With no updates from the OP this afternoon I think we can assume the GP referred her son to A&E for immediate treatment. Perhaps we can lay off telling her to go to hospital until we hear from her?

I suspect she knew it was Type I and just wanted some reassurance that taking him to the GP wasn't an overreaction.

DexysMidniteRunners · 13/11/2024 17:57

alpop · 13/11/2024 13:09

The past two days I've really noticed how much water (with a tiny bit dilution juice) he is drinking. He's asking me a lot for more. He will down it then ask for another one

His mouth smells like an acidic smell like battery acid. I have no better way of explaining it. It's smelt like that since yesterday. His older sisters have noticed it too and said he smells weird

He's well otherwise. He was running a lot today and has been at his nursery.

He's maybe eating slightly more. But he's completely well other wise

Diabetes runs in my family. My brother is type 1 and was really unwell at 5 years old. My mum didn't notice anything until he was passing out then admitted to hospital.

Does anyone have any ideas??

You have diabetes in the family, yet asking random folk on MN what to do? Jesus wept...

Missmarplesknittingbuddy · 13/11/2024 17:44

Borntorunfast · 13/11/2024 17:34

Tbf that'd be a highly accurate way of diagnosing it. My DS's BG was off the scale when he was diagnosed, and anyone with T1 will know the safe levels. BUT they don't mess about with T1 in kids, or not in our experience: we had a fingerprick test at the GP and were blue-lighted to A&E within the hour.

Show quote history

Not every " snap shot " blood glucose is off the scale in newly diagnosed Type1 . There are other tests such as HbA1c that need performing . Regardless of the fingerprick reading ( on an uncalibrated device) your child need will still need a professional assessment. Hopefully , OP your GP will have followed National Guidance and referred in to hospital .