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??

I agree with @NewGreenDuck. With the smell this is A&E time. DKA is very very serious and needs immediate attention. Do not wait for your GP appointment.

Go to A&E

Hopefully GP appt will shed some light :)

Does sound like diabetes. We have the same issues and early symptoms in our family.

I'd just go to A&E with that. Take a small bag with you as if it is diabetes they will likely keep him in while they get it sorted.

Looking at the nhs website and the close family history, I also would be taking straight to A+E at this point.
He's very little, so although you say he seems fine otherwise now, things could take a turn for the worse very quickly.
Just get him to the hospital.

It sounds likely it could be Type 1 I’m glad he’s being seen this afternoon.
I wish I had realised as quick as you some symptoms as my son was very poorly DKA at diagnosis .
Please update us

Yep when I was diagnosedbwith T1 at my GP surgeryI had to go straight to hospital where I stayed for a week.

Agree with PP, emergency appt or a&e

Bypass the GP and bring straight to A&E, if he's already experiencing these symptoms he will be sent there anyway.

Sounds classic for diabetes so go and get him tested asap - speak to GP and explain family history and drinking and breath smell should eb a straight in and bloods test.

Classic breath smell they call "pear drop" smell and it indicates ketosis I think they call it. If caught all treatable although a whole new regime for you both - good luck

I think very possibly Diabetes, these are classic signs of this, does he smell like Pear Drops at all, please get him tested today, it could be very dangerous if sugar levels get too high, hope you can get answers as soon as possible.

I'd go straight to the A&E

I would take him to A&E.

A&E- DKA comes on quickly and can smell distinctive. With your family history, I'm very surprised you have posted this! I'm glad you have an appointment.

It sounds like he's got diabetes symptoms. I think you'll end up at the hospital. When is your appointment?

T1 with a T1 child here. Don't bother with the GP, straight to A&E. Too many GPs don't do the right tests promptly enough.

You have a family history of diabetes you should be taking him to a and e ffs.
Honestly what the heck.. Don't post on mumsnet for potentially life threatening illness!
He needs bloods taken ASAP.

this

Agree, diabetes, you need to have him tested ASAP.

‘Does anyone have any ideas??’ gee let us think. How about the diabetes that runs in your family?

This happened to us, GP dismissed it as nothing to worry about, but I knew something was wrong (didn't know much about type 1 at the time but DS was also losing weight!). I took him to A&E and he was in the high dependency bed with DKA within an hour, type 1 diagnosis. As others have said, please don't wait for the GP appointment, go to A&E now!

You have diabetes in the family. Your son is showing what could be the early symptoms of diabetes. But you're on Mumsnet asking what you should do? Really??

How on earth have we got to this point?

Diabetes runs in the family.
Child is desperately thirsty.

🤔

I'll post on MN to get a clue??

Wtf

You can get service dogs that can pick up on the smell of blood sugar drops or spikes in diabetic people from up to a mile away. If you, as a human, can pick up on a smell change in him, it really is very serious. It is called Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/

There is a big warning in the middle of the page - call 999 or go to A&E if you do not know your ketone levels but have symptons of DKA such as feeling thirsty or needing to pee more often, feeling sleepy or confused, and breath that smells fruity (like pear drop sweets or nail polish remover).

Diabetic ketoacidosis can be life threatening so it's important to get treatment quickly.

Go to A&E straight away

Don't waste time going to the GP.

As you probably know, this could develop into a lfe-threatening condition called Diabetic keto-acidosis