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?

[alpop]

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??

As a nurse I would say GP now - it does sound like diabetes. Get tested - even if just to put your mind at rest.

I didn’t realise I was talking to you, maybe you can write a post that doesn’t need inappropriate words! I was replying to the original post, why would anyone in her situation be asking medical questions on mumsnet? It’s ridiculous! I don’t care what she posted or did afterwards, in the moment that her child had those symptoms, the first thought was to post on here. Like numerous people said, get him to a gp, 111 or the hospital before it could be too late. Mumsnet is not for urgent medical advice, so wind your neck in!

just throwing this out there but could it be your own sense of smell which is out of kilter? Perhaps you have sinus issues?

@naw131 op stated that the gp could also smell the odour from her dc

Hate to post about this, but my nephew had same symptoms at age 2 Dr said chest infection and pump full of antibiotics, unfortunately my brother had to rush him to hospital middle of the night, found he was diabetic gave insulin, but it was to late,sadly passed away.
So I really believe the hospital is the best,even if they say the same

I’ve read through and it seems he had a fingerprick blood test and the results are fine 🤔
I am now thinking sinus infection or he has acid reflux .
My breath will be stinky with either of those .
I am now on omeprazole as my reflux got worse

Could be diabetes insipidus, which is not 'Diabetes'. My daughter has this. Seek GP advice.

I haven't had the chance to read all of this but please keep an eye out for the 4Ts of diabetes.
Tired
Thirsty
Toilet (needing it more)
&
Thinner (lost weight)

If you are concerned at all go to A&E, get a full HbA1c blood test as soon as you possibly can.

Children with T1 diabetes can go very very poorly very quickly, many have to spend days in hospital, some extremely unwell on arrival.

Good luck

Mum of a T1

Straight to doctors.

This is what happens to my DS when he was three and no history of type 1 diabetes in the family. Other symptoms weee rapid weight loss ( we could see his ribs) and bed wetting. Forget the GP take him straight to A&E as it can quickly turn into a serious condition called ketoacidosis leading to brain swelling and coma. They will admit him and start urgent insulin therapy. Please don’t delay.

Clearly diabetic. Why are you even asking if this runs in your family as it does in mine?

She’s been to gp. He’s not diabetic

With respect, a “not diabetic” at the dr needs to be treated with caution. My ds was told not diabetic 3 times at gp visits in the 6 months leading up to his diagnosis of t1.

I hope it isn’t diabetes and that the OP’s child is on the mend.

Man it's just embarrassing at this stage.

Hope all is well OP. Whatever about sugars, your own blood pressure will be up if you come back to your thread!

May be get a check for Diabetes Insipidus? My daughter has this. It's not diabetes but peculiarly has that in its name! It's caused by a lack of anti-diuretic hormone, which means the kidneys keep releasing water (urine) hence permanent thirst.

Was that on the basis of normal blood glucose readings?

As the parent of a diabetic person, I am in several support groups, many parents in those groups report the GP missing the diagnosis for a variety of reasons. Many of those children ended up in hospital for days. Even if a GP has said it is not T1 diabetes it is still worth keeping a very close eye on it. I was told it's only the amount my son was drinking that had stopped him ending up seriously ill. I discovered that at diagnosis he had built up to 8 litres per day, he was a young adult and so most of that wasn't in front of me.

Is there an easier way to find OP updates than by scrolling?

Click "see all" at the bottom of any of the OP's posts.

Hi I know people have said get checked I agree but if it's tap water smell it. I don't drink it anymore stinks of chlorine the a swimming pool and that would play havoc on the stomach which could cause snell. If your not already switch to bottle water

Please get him checked extremely urgently if you haven't already. Go to the ED. ...
If he smells of battery acid and he has been increasedly thirsty (polydypsia) it indicates diabetes and ketoacidosis. It sounds like his body is breaking down fat for energy (resulting in ketoacidosis) as he hasn't sufficient insulin to break down blood glucose. His blood will be becoming very acidic and his blood glucose will be rising.

Take him to be checked now.
(Sometimes the smell of those developing ketoacidosis has been likened to pear drops)
Take him.

OP posted 4 days and 270 posts ago. She's been to the doctor.

Thanks BarbaraHoward.

A finger prick test is only a 'now' snapshot. Please tell your GP you want HbA1c done. This is a much more accurate informative test and will show what's been going on the past 3 months with blood glucose levels.

The weird smell could be because he's in ketosis. Also related to diabetes.

I believe you can buy diabetes test strips to test urine from chemists. Possibly ketone ones too.
my daughter was fine, then suddenly started drinking LOTS, lost weight and was really poorly. I thought it was covid as it was just after lock down, I would test him 2 hours eating something carby or give him something like pure orange juice & then test hour later and record sugars like that for a whole day.

Have you also looked in throat? When my daughter had tonsillitis her breath was awful!! Get him to swish mouthwash around in his mouth if you think he’s capable of it and spitting it out… think they do ones for children.

hope your baby is better soon and I hope it’s not type 1 diabetes as it’s fkn hard work