Exhausted child and a strange smell

[BlueDinosaurs]

My daughter is 9 and for the last few days has just been absolutely shattered. Laying down in bed almost as soon as they get in from school. Bit of stomach ache going on, no diarrhoea or sickness, some blood in her poo. Not a huge amount. Off her food a little bit but is eating things like toast, fruit and yogurts. Generally just under the weather but the main thing that I have noticed is that she has an odd smell about her. After she has been for a poo it has a really odd smell to it and her breath does too - the same smell. Has anyone encountered this? I’m assuming it’s a version of a stomach bug but it’s the odd smell finding a bit unsettling. Any advice welcome, thank you.

Agree with everyone else.

Also - blood in poo should never be ignored or taken as normal. It always requires checking out by a GP asap.

Blood in poo is immediate cause for alarm. Get that checked straight away, don’t hang around.

Just another one saying check for diabetes. If it’s a totally different smell to fruity it could be an infection. Either way I hope you’re at a doctors!

My son had an ear infection and it was awful smelling and everyone said it wasn’t and I was overreacting! Weird

I’d be worried about ketoacidosis, which is where a diabetic’s body starts breaking down fats for fuel and the acids released cause a smell a bit like rotten fruit - a sort of sweet, fruity chemical smell. It’s very, very dangerous and can be life threatening - I would suggest taking her to A&E if that’s the smell you are talking about. Has she been thirstier and needing to urinate more?

My child always smells when they are sick. On top of this, infections smell.

Blood in poo should be checked out immediately, OP you need to take her to A&E.

I was able to smell in advance if my kids were coming down with something.

I can’t put my finger on the smell. It just smells odd. I remember my mum when I was younger saying my Grandad had a funny smell about him and it smelled like diabetes (she worked in a pharmacy so was a bit familiar with some ailments etc) and he did turn out to have it and it’s that smell that has hit a chord and what I think may smell familiar.

Not thirstier, just exhausted. Saying she is hungry all the time but yet not overly eating a huge amount.

I will read all the replies and assess. Will try and get a stool and urine sample. i will call 111 for advice and then go from there.

Thank you for your replies.

A quick Google shows blood in poo can also bea symptom of diabetes, as well as the smell and the tiredness. Worth ruling out, and if not that then likely some sort of virus she's fighting. Has she been in school today? Any other kids ill?

Please let us know how you got on OP with the doctor, if you feel comfortable to! Curious but also concerned, even if you're a stranger 💔

As others say bad breath in kids can mean diabetes. Hope you get her checked soon. X

Did people's kids just die before mumsnet

Coeliacs?

Yes, my great uncle died age 11 from childhood diabetes. In the 1930s.

Interesting that she says she is hungry, she might be confusing feelings of hunger and thirst.

I hope you get her checked out quickly OP.

Tiredness and sweet smell could be diabetes (pear drop smell). See you GP asap

I think that was more to do with medical care rather then incompetent parenting. One of these days there is going to be a post saying my kid isn't breathing what do I do

You’ve had some good pointers here. Sounds like my 7 y/o just before he was diagnosed with diabetes. Hope you soon get some answers. Fingers crossed for your family

Hunger can also a symptom of diabetes (from my experience).

Yes. Definitely definitely get her checked out for diabetes, really important you do

But mine do just have a certain smell to me when they are ill, or about to be, it's not unpleasant though, it's just their "ill" smell. I don't think anyone else notices it

This
An odour of pear drops is a sign of possible diabetes

It could be a few things, urine infection, diabetes, pancreatic, constipation, definitely seek medical advice.

Op, type 1 diabetes in a child could be an emergency, you need to go to A&e tonight to get her checked if you suspect it. Don’t wait for GP, and tbh 111 will say A&e or get you an ooo appointment.

Back in the day, people had more close knit communities and asked each other.
But yes, knowledge saves lives and I expect there will be children whose lives were saved because of Mumsnet