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Exhausted child and a strange smell

192 replies

BlueDinosaurs · 15/01/2025 19:49

My daughter is 9 and for the last few days has just been absolutely shattered. Laying down in bed almost as soon as they get in from school. Bit of stomach ache going on, no diarrhoea or sickness, some blood in her poo. Not a huge amount. Off her food a little bit but is eating things like toast, fruit and yogurts. Generally just under the weather but the main thing that I have noticed is that she has an odd smell about her. After she has been for a poo it has a really odd smell to it and her breath does too - the same smell. Has anyone encountered this? I’m assuming it’s a version of a stomach bug but it’s the odd smell finding a bit unsettling. Any advice welcome, thank you.

OP posts:
GabriellaFaith · 17/01/2025 00:44

Tested ASAP. Crohns, ulcerative colitis, stomach abscess, potentially diabetes, piles as a, secondary problem, maybe even a virus

pollymere · 17/01/2025 00:40

There is a bug going around like that... BUT blood in things and funny smelling breath need to be checked out ASAP. Another vote for diabetes.

Merryoldgoat · 17/01/2025 00:06

Katbum · 16/01/2025 23:26

This thread most of all bothers me because it illustrates how the move to phone call appointments with GPs is a huge mistake. The whole physiological presentation of a person informs how we understand their health, from sight (underweight, overweight, pallor, tiredness) to smell, touch and how they sound. This cannot be adequately substituted. We are allowing our public health to decline for corporate profits and it’s a tragedy.

My surgery would see a child with these symptoms urgently.

I got a same day appointment because my baby was making a funny face - he was probably only about 20 months. I felt bonkers as that was the only symptom but it felt off.

He had white spots all over his throat and inflamed tonsils.

In my experience the only time they don’t see you if for really clear stuff - like when I had bitten my fingernail and the pharmacist said I needed the GP to prescribe something.

I think the surgeries refusing to modernise and put proper improvements in place are reprehensible.

Katbum · 16/01/2025 23:26

This thread most of all bothers me because it illustrates how the move to phone call appointments with GPs is a huge mistake. The whole physiological presentation of a person informs how we understand their health, from sight (underweight, overweight, pallor, tiredness) to smell, touch and how they sound. This cannot be adequately substituted. We are allowing our public health to decline for corporate profits and it’s a tragedy.

sherbertcandy · 16/01/2025 22:41

I'm shocked by the casual comment of blood in her poo! This is NOT normal and NOT something to ignore as well as fatigue etc!!

OOOtil2025 · 16/01/2025 22:23

I hope she’s okay. I have crohns and when I have a flare up I smell - generally all of me smells no matter how much I bathe. It needs steroids and a low residue diet (think all beige food) until it subsides. But it was hard before diagnosis and GP kept fobbing me off.

Needs a medical professional to diagnose OP DD issue, we could all be guessing and still be wrong. It’s such a worry when it’s a youngster so tired from feeling poorly. Am hoping she just has a nasty virus and it’s over soon x

FrazzledHippy · 16/01/2025 22:19

I work in the health care industry and I know there's outbreaks of C. Dif all over the place at the moment. This comes with a strange smell to it, infected people's poo smells almost like a baby poo. It's a nasty thing to have and worth ruling out. It's highly contagious and spreads like wildfire. I hope your DD feels better soon!

OOOtil2025 · 16/01/2025 22:19

TheEveningSun · 16/01/2025 20:37

Just curious to read about the smell, is it also with people who have type 2 diabetes? Whenever my mum stays with us there’s that weird smell in her room and I can’t put my finger on what it is as she’s a very clean person. It’s that strong smell even if she’s not in that room but not always. She has the type 2

It could be? But this happens when you’re in ketosis and sugar is running high due to either poor control or another illness which usually causes BG to run high. Is she monitoring BG? If so she’d know - T1 here and you feel tired and groggy, like a hangover, fuzzy head, and just generally shit. The body starts to burn through your fat in the body which then gets peed away - hence the excess piddling. And your body needs to replace the lost water so you get thirsty.

It’s not just being thirsty though - you drink a pint of water and immediately have dry mouth.

In uk you can buy ketosticks from chemist - pee on them and they give you a colour chart on back of pack and it will tell you your ketone level.

Hope OPs daughter is okay and sorry to derail.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 16/01/2025 22:17

Differentstarts · 15/01/2025 20:26

I think that was more to do with medical care rather then incompetent parenting. One of these days there is going to be a post saying my kid isn't breathing what do I do

With Posters saying don't call for an ambulance, they're for emergencies, call 111

Seabreeze18 · 16/01/2025 22:16

Please update op as we are all in invested in hoping your daughter is on?

Silvers11 · 16/01/2025 21:41

@BlueDinosaurs I hope your daughter is Ok now and that you managed to get her seen to urgently. Been worried about you both

Bowies · 16/01/2025 21:21

My DC “smell” unwell but good to have a medical check if you have any doubts

TheEveningSun · 16/01/2025 20:37

Just curious to read about the smell, is it also with people who have type 2 diabetes? Whenever my mum stays with us there’s that weird smell in her room and I can’t put my finger on what it is as she’s a very clean person. It’s that strong smell even if she’s not in that room but not always. She has the type 2

CandleRigg89 · 16/01/2025 20:08

Just want to chime in, I’m seeing lots of ‘blood in poo alone is a red flag’ type messages here.

Small specks of blood in the poo of otherwise well child is NOT an emergency. Blood in poo is a red flag symptom for adults, but NOT for children, especially under 12’s. The three most likely causes in a WELL child are: a small tear due to straining, a hemorrhoid, or an allergy. If it’s more than a once or twice off, by all means book a GP appointment, but if the child is otherwise well, there’s little to worry about.

Obviously the concern here is the combination of symptoms. The smell and fatigue are the most concerning, the blood would likely indicate an inflamed stomach so most likely some kind of virus. But definitely needs diabetes ruled out.

DorianMeile · 16/01/2025 20:03

My son goes into ketosis when he has a fever. Smells sweet, no diabetes, very odd.

CustardySergeant · 16/01/2025 19:56

LunaTheCat · 16/01/2025 19:25

GP here… take her to drs asap.. if GP is closed than urgent care or ED… it is probably nothing but you need to exclude diabetes and severe infection.

The OP hasn't posted for 24 hours. I doubt she's still reading. I hope she got her daughter to a doctor.

Nc261224 · 16/01/2025 19:44

My DS has had flu symptoms last week and had a funny smell. It smelt sticky, but not sweet. Went away 2 days after fever subsided.

LunaTheCat · 16/01/2025 19:25

GP here… take her to drs asap.. if GP is closed than urgent care or ED… it is probably nothing but you need to exclude diabetes and severe infection.

CheekyLemonHiker · 16/01/2025 19:14

Sounds like onset DKA. Get to hospital urgently, coming from a type 1 diabetic diagnosed at 6.

x

Peanutssuck · 16/01/2025 19:14

Haven't read through thread, but my DD had an odd smell for a while especially when on her period. Stomach pains as well. Diagnosed with Crohns

Oodiks · 16/01/2025 19:04

Looking for an update...

TellerTuesday · 16/01/2025 18:50

Pointpoint · 15/01/2025 19:56

It’s a well known fact that mums can tell when their kids are coming down with some thing as they smell different. It’s odd but proven.

Providing shes not smelling sweet or like pear drops (signs of diabetes) see how she goes for a few days.

Based off the blood in her poo it might be worth speaking to the GP anyway and ruling a few things out. Is it bright red fresh blood or a darker red? The bright red is normally less of a worry

Edited

I second this. DD smells poorly to me if she has a virus of some sort, not sweet just different but agree with other posters that if it's the pear drips smell you should ring 111

ZestyJoey · 16/01/2025 18:47

Normally the odd smells are the result of a parasitic or fungal infection... however there's a few people who have suggested possible type I diabetes, which explains the fatigue. Blood in stool could be any number of things but pretty much all of them are serious. Get a GP appointment ASAP and tell them every symptom, no matter how small.

God speed, OP. Hope your princess gets well soon :)

onwardsupwardsandbeyond · 16/01/2025 18:42

@BlueDinosaurs OP, could it possibly be that she's had an early period? Maybe she doesn't realise and thinks the blood came with the poo?

MissMoneyFairy · 16/01/2025 18:42

CatComments · 16/01/2025 18:37

Only after she's read and assessed all of the replies first.

You don't know that she's not seen a doctor or is in hospital but pages of it might be diabetes is ridiculous even with Cross posting, hope she's OK and maybe we'll get an update.

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