Posting here for traffic - toddler with acetone breath?

[AcetoneBreath]

Hello!

I have name changed, (obviously).

My 21 mo DS has breath which smells of acetone. He's had it for the past couple of days. I think he may have a bit of a bug of some kind as well, as he hasn't been himself and has had a bit of tummy trouble.

I'm planning on phoning the GP on Monday regardless, but I (foolishly) googled and there is the odd post on some forums saying, "see a doctor immediately as it could be diabetes and he could slip into a coma" . We are on holiday at the moment, (back home tomorrow, first thing), but we are in the UK. We obviously wouldn't be able to go to a GP till monday anyway, unless it was out of hours, but, is this a 111 type job...?

My sister, who is a doctor, saw him yesterday. She was the one who originally told me about the link to diabetes. I'd never heard of it before. Anyway, she said if it was diabetes he would be weeing all the time and losing weight, which he doesn't appear to be. She wasn't worried about him especially.

Should I wait till Monday or would you try 111?

TIA

My neighbour's daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 18 months. she wasn't losing weight just generally unwell. By the time they decided that there was a problem and took her to a and e she was very ill. Call 111 or go to A and E.

Most toddlers go in to Ketosis naturally (like most adults who eat a lower carb diet) which also causes peardrop breath, it isn't just caused by Ketoacidosis. However, you can't be sure what it is. Only the hospital can be sure. Diabetic children can also have yellow soles of feet, what colour are they? Deffo a 111 and maybe a&e jobby.

Previous thread like this here...
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/3683845-14-year-old-smells-of-acetone?pg=1

I hope they ring you back soon, if not I would just take him to a&e to be on the safe side, he's only little

My daughter gets very acidic smelling breath when she's teething, always has and continues to do so (she has 4 molar's left!). She also gets warmer and her mood is terrible. Could he be teething? Does he have all of his teeth now?

If he's not eating ketone bodies can build up and be excreted in urine so I would imagine that might cause ketone breath. But pps are correct that breath can smell of ketones in diabetes so I would certainly bear that very much in mind. You know your son. Keep an eye.

Kids that are unwell have a sour milk smell about them usually but sometimes they might smell differently though unsure about acetone, have you checked his urine and stools for all well

Yes, I'm keeping a close eye on him. He's asleep beside us now.

DH still can't smell it, but I don't know if he has a crap sense of smell or if I have an over sensitive one.

DS was a bit feverish before bed and doing some very stinky farts (sorry...why is everything smell related?), so he's had some Calpol and into bed. I think it's a virus, as my DD seems to have it too now! I'm quite relieved, although obviously it isn't nice for her to have it too.

111 have said to manage it at home, but obviously to keep an eye on him and call back if anything changes.

Thanks again all .

What would be in his urine or stools @Advicewel? I haven't noticed anything except he had about three small bowel movements after bath last night. Which is obviously quite a lot in a short space of time.

It could be ketotic hypoglycemia. Seek urgent medical attention if he is extremely fatigued, un-rousable, or goes shakey.

Not everyone can smell ketones, I'm a nurse, have looked after loads of patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis and I've never been able to smell ketones, it's genetic apparently (the ability to smell ketones I mean).

If in doubt get your son seen by a doctor. Ketones are similar to the smell of pear drops or just a general sweet smell !! Don’t ignore!!

@Acetonebreath
As others have said, ketosis can be caused by things other than diabetes - not eating and drinking enough for example so some children do become ketotic with fairly minor illnesses. However, diabetes does not always present with the textbook signs and symptoms so I would have a fairly low threshold for calling them back or going to A&E or your nearest walk in centre if he gets any worse or doesn't seem to be improving as you would expect. It probably is a simple viral infection and hopefully he will bounce back quickly, but don't hesitate to get him seen by someone if you are worried.
I hope he is well again very soon.
PS I am another one who can't smell ketones despite having an otherwise very sensitive nose - it's a specific genetic thing.

Thanks.

I'm pretty sure DH can smell ketones generally, as he has smelt them on my dad when he does the Atkins diet. I have to say though, that on neither my dad nor on ds do I think it smells sweet like pear drops. It's a more acrid smell than that.

I am keeping a really close eye on him and will take him to the nearest hospital if anything changes.

I've been told to keep an eye on his breathing and any pain in his lower back, abdomen and chest.

I think the fact that 111 are happy for him to stay here at the moment and that both ds and dd seem to have similar viral symptoms, I think it is probably just a virus, but I am going to keep checking on him. Assuming he stays the same, I'll take him to a chemist to do a finger prick test tomorrow.

I've noticed that small children have that smell whenever they are sick or coming down with something.

Yeah, I think that's what it is 1300.

A different person just called from 111 and has got me an OOH appointment at a local hospital tomorrow morning, so at least we can rule out diabetes quickly.

My 19m DS always has this smell when he's just coming down with something , nobody else can usually smell it but I always say "oh he's definitely going to get something soon" and he always does.

It's the same when hes just about to cut a tooth , his poo always smells like vinegar to me but nobody else

Hmmmm I just kissed DH and he also smells of acetone...which leads me to believe that nobody is diabetic and I am an idiot have a very heightened sense of smell at the moment. And I'm not even pregnant .

We have the GP this morning and I have smelt it more frequently on DS, so we will obviously still go. What a twat though, if I've massively over thought it .

Just to update:

We went to the OOH appointment at minor injuries and they had a good look at him. His blood sugar was 5.5, which apparently is fine. They think he's coming down with a virus as his ear and throat are red and he's grumpy. Also a mild, blanching rash on his torso.

So there we are. Glad I checked though.

I am really glad to hear that. Hope he is back to his usual self soon.

Thanks. I did feel a bit of a dick, because nobody else can smell it! Even the nurse said she couldn't, but I definitely can. So weird. Anyway, there we are.

They obviously were happy I'd brought him anyway, as he is very young and just to be on the safe side. They were able to give me advice about nursing his imminent horrid lurgy! So that's good.

Thanks again to everyone (pretty much the entire thread) who told me to get it seen to .

Both my DCs get this breath when they have a nasty bug. Neither are diabetic.

@namechange46 and others whose dcs get this when they're poorly, or about to become poorly; could I please ask if anyone but you can smell it on them or is it just you?

I dont think anyone has ever been able to smell this on my DC except me.

My totally non medical theory is that if you're physiologically bonded to the child/adult, I.e. you're intimate with that person, you cuddle them/breastfed them/change their nappies, or share a bed with them, or they're your parent etc etc., you are attuned and can pick it up.

I dont think its exactly the same as ketone breath, I can smell that too and it's different to the smell I pick up. Similar but this type of smell is noticeably sweeter to me.

Just me OP.