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??

Go to A&E, DKA is serious. Im a T1, and had serious health complications due to it.

I have no family history of diabetes but immediately thought this. Why on earth you need to waste time coming on here asking for advice instead of using your common sense is anyone’s guess. Are people really so unable to think for themselves nowadays?

Anyway, all the best for him and get him to A&E.

I'm so pleased. It's terrifying when it's small children.

Surely all the GP will do is to say go to A&E? Why delay?

Please don’t go to the GP and go straight to a+e. So many GP’s don’t diagnose diabetes as they should do and insist on doing a fasting blood test. All you need is a finger prick test and a urine. I’ve seen so many children go undiagnosed for days whilst doctors mess about waiting for tests. Please go to the hospital and get his sorted straight away.

This

Exactly the same thing happened to my grandson. Drinking loads, breath smells etc. Was taken to hospital and kept in while they dealt with it and adjusted an insulin dosage until it was right for him. It is something he will have for life but he has adapted to it even though it was a terrible shock at first. He works abroad now, diabetes hasn’t held him back at all, even though he was only 11 when he was diagnosed. The secret is to be scrupulous about doing your our injections when you should, and not just ‘whenever’! It is a manageable illness.

Good luck OP let us know how it goes.

OP I'm a GP and I think go with either ED or GP if he's fairly well. If it is diabetes he likely will be admitted to hospital. However, no GP in their right mind would see a child with this history and not check his blood glucose and ketones. If neither of these are raised it isn't diabetes. Good luck x

Please don't give him milk just now, it will only add to the sugars that his body can't deal with.

This has got to be a wind up.

Unquenchable thirst is a warning sign of T1 diabates, which I also developed as a child many years ago

Don't ket these symptoms persist, call 111 right away or take your child to A&E right away BEFORE vomiting happens.

Your childs: symptoms must be treated as an emergency.

Agree sounds like diabetes. Best of luck hopefully you get some answers.

Another vote for A & E here. Most do a triage system so can do a finger prick quickly and easily, then action if appropriate.

Having worked with type 1's for years. I've seen little ones go from healthy with a few minor complaints a GP brushed off to in a PICU bed within 48hrs. So get him seen ASAP. Also insist the GP does a finger prick. Many are reluctant to in little kids, when they should be doing them.

Personally wouldn't risk it if it was my child.

You must know it could be his eyes. Go to an and e. Now. DKA can be fatal. To put it bluntly.

Ffs diabetes not his eyes.

Oh come on this can't be serious 🙄

I don't understand why you are asking Mumsnet what's wrong with your 4yo, with a family history of juvenile onset type 1 diabetes. Don't waste time with a GP appointment, go straight to A&E. DKA can be fatal.

"Does anyone have any ideas" are you serious right now

You can all probably stop jumping on the OP, it's more than likely she's at A&E. Nothing as fun as a pile on though?

OP I hope your little boy is okay .

Quite agree. How unnecessarily nasty people are.

OP hope you're both ok. We all worry about over reacting so asking isn't as heinous as some would suggest.

Hi op, I second everyone else - GP for diabetes check as it could be ketones. Hope all goes well

I do not intend for this to sound mean, but as many others have said, why are you posting on mumsnet?
If my child had these symptoms the last thing on my mind would be 'I must post on AIBU.'
It might be different if you knew nothing about the symptoms but even then, if you Googled the symptoms it's going to suggest diabetes right away. You know it would be a fairly urgent medical matter & you'd take action.

Were you looking for confirmation? Reassurance?

Anyway, I hope your wee one is OK.

I would take him straight to A&E. Sounds like it could be DKA, especially with family history. Hope he will be OK xx

Good.
Hope he's okay.