Does anyone else’s child have HORRIBLE breath when they have a virus?!

[HepburnKNotA]

Poor DD has a virus. Aches, headache, stuffy nose, very mild fever, also she always gets a little viral rash without fail which she has today.

Her breath is HORRENDOUS. She’s sleeping in bed with me (for comfort) and I’m slightly dreading getting in next to her in a couple of hours, it’s like a toxic wave!

Is this a ‘thing’ with viruses? It’s not a sign her sore throat may be a bacterial infection, is it? Sore throat doesn’t seem awful, she’s been fine on calpol, so I wasn’t thinking about going to the GP as all other signs point to virus.

She’s had dodgy breath once or twice before with viruses come to think of it but not as bad as this.

And she usually smells like a meadow she has lovely clean teeth etc!!!

She’s 7

Anyone else’s child??!

Yes, it is a bit like tonsil stones

I can always smell when my DC are poorly (Brie-breath!)

enough sleep
good nutrition (a multi vit containing vit d3 might be a good idea)
exercise (at least one hour a day, preferably outside)
good hygiene (hand washing!)

is all you can do really.
I hope she feels better soon!

Yes. I can smell illness on my two, too. Not just their breath but their skin too.

I think its down to dehydration, not that we aren't giving them enough fluud, but Im sure the body needs more sleep, more water & more rest.

My son did when younger and usually with inflamed tonsils. The smell was unique! and truly awful! He doesn't seem to get that now but several occasions when he was under 10

Yep, DS (7) had awful breath the other day and then was sick in the evening. Sometimes the smell comes from his head too (sweat I guess).

Took DD (1) to ooh GP today as she was off food and complaining of sore ear and she has tonsillitis and ear infection. She's not a complainer so I'd hardly have known anything was wrong. She's since vomited and still smells fine so I guess it's just some children who react in a noxious way.

Bloody January indeed. Hope it all passes quickly for you.

As@Bluntness100 said "being tired, feeling achey, having a fever, sore swallowing and throat, headache, coughing, bad breath etc are all symptoms of tonsillitis."
You should check if your DD has white spots on her tonsils (a flashlight on your phone can be really helpful). If it's a bacterial infection she'll also get high fever and it should be treated by antibiotics, if it's not treated it can result in complications. My DS has it right now, today is the first night without fever after 3 exhausting days...
"Tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria that is not treated with antibiotics may result in complications , such as ear and sinus infections or pockets of infection outside the tonsils ( peritonsillar abscess ). More serious complications, such as rheumatic fever , are rare."

I thought it was just catarrh, I get it when I've got a cold, I can even smell it myself, not pleasant!

My DD’s breath is whiffy currently as she’s teething. Similarly she gets it when she’s got a cold.

Ds gets that when he has a cold. I also thought it was caused by mucus build up. I think I've been put off brie for life now!

I got this growing up and still do if I’m going to get viral or bacterial tonsillitis . It’s almost like a sour bitter smell? (Not read the full thread sorry if this has already been said!). Mum used to get me to drink lots of water and eat fruits like watermelon that were cool and contain lots of liquid if I didn’t want to eat the usual food. It’s definitely a thing as my mum gets it too and so does my husband when he’s going to be properly poorly .
I hope she feels better soon OP ! X

OP, you said she gets everything... well just to reassure you, mine did too but as adults they are rarely ill. I really think they caught everything young, and built up their immunity.

Thanks again everyone.
PicklemeCleg that’s reassuring; I often look at others her age who seem so much more robust and despair a little! Good to hear it can work out just fine.

Sinussy colds led to smelly breath.

Tummy upsets also lead to smelly burps and farts.

Yes, poor chap DS2, when he talks he smells like a rotten fart. he's only 3 and we have all noticed it. The quicker he gets better, the better for all of us

Yes definitely smelly breath. It's either acetone or a poop like smell.

My daughter gets 'ill breath' every time she has a mild cold or worse. It's horrendous, I hate it! I hope she grows out of it because it's very off putting.

My DD is 11 and I can always tell when she's coming down with a cold or bug because I can just smell it on her skin - weird, isn't it!

And when she's poorly her breath is a bit stinky - similar to a ketones type of smell, I assume it's because she isn't eating as much as normal and she burns a lot of fuel.

Yes. I don’t mind if so much, it always reminds me that I created something that has its own breath

Yes all of mine do, it’s horrendous.

Yes, have you checked the size of your daughter’s tonsils (when well)? My DC with the awful breath has massive tonsils all the time whereas the DC without has normal sized ones.

Yes both my ds get this, it's the first sign they're going to be ill!