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.

My DS has had flu symptoms last week and had a funny smell. It smelt sticky, but not sweet. Went away 2 days after fever subsided.

The OP hasn't posted for 24 hours. I doubt she's still reading. I hope she got her daughter to a doctor.

My son goes into ketosis when he has a fever. Smells sweet, no diabetes, very odd.

Just want to chime in, I’m seeing lots of ‘blood in poo alone is a red flag’ type messages here.

Small specks of blood in the poo of otherwise well child is NOT an emergency. Blood in poo is a red flag symptom for adults, but NOT for children, especially under 12’s. The three most likely causes in a WELL child are: a small tear due to straining, a hemorrhoid, or an allergy. If it’s more than a once or twice off, by all means book a GP appointment, but if the child is otherwise well, there’s little to worry about.

Obviously the concern here is the combination of symptoms. The smell and fatigue are the most concerning, the blood would likely indicate an inflamed stomach so most likely some kind of virus. But definitely needs diabetes ruled out.

Just curious to read about the smell, is it also with people who have type 2 diabetes? Whenever my mum stays with us there’s that weird smell in her room and I can’t put my finger on what it is as she’s a very clean person. It’s that strong smell even if she’s not in that room but not always. She has the type 2

My DC “smell” unwell but good to have a medical check if you have any doubts

@BlueDinosaurs I hope your daughter is Ok now and that you managed to get her seen to urgently. Been worried about you both

Please update op as we are all in invested in hoping your daughter is on?

With Posters saying don't call for an ambulance, they're for emergencies, call 111

It could be? But this happens when you’re in ketosis and sugar is running high due to either poor control or another illness which usually causes BG to run high. Is she monitoring BG? If so she’d know - T1 here and you feel tired and groggy, like a hangover, fuzzy head, and just generally shit. The body starts to burn through your fat in the body which then gets peed away - hence the excess piddling. And your body needs to replace the lost water so you get thirsty.

It’s not just being thirsty though - you drink a pint of water and immediately have dry mouth.

In uk you can buy ketosticks from chemist - pee on them and they give you a colour chart on back of pack and it will tell you your ketone level.

Hope OPs daughter is okay and sorry to derail.

I work in the health care industry and I know there's outbreaks of C. Dif all over the place at the moment. This comes with a strange smell to it, infected people's poo smells almost like a baby poo. It's a nasty thing to have and worth ruling out. It's highly contagious and spreads like wildfire. I hope your DD feels better soon!

I hope she’s okay. I have crohns and when I have a flare up I smell - generally all of me smells no matter how much I bathe. It needs steroids and a low residue diet (think all beige food) until it subsides. But it was hard before diagnosis and GP kept fobbing me off.

Needs a medical professional to diagnose OP DD issue, we could all be guessing and still be wrong. It’s such a worry when it’s a youngster so tired from feeling poorly. Am hoping she just has a nasty virus and it’s over soon x

I'm shocked by the casual comment of blood in her poo! This is NOT normal and NOT something to ignore as well as fatigue etc!!

This thread most of all bothers me because it illustrates how the move to phone call appointments with GPs is a huge mistake. The whole physiological presentation of a person informs how we understand their health, from sight (underweight, overweight, pallor, tiredness) to smell, touch and how they sound. This cannot be adequately substituted. We are allowing our public health to decline for corporate profits and it’s a tragedy.

My surgery would see a child with these symptoms urgently.

I got a same day appointment because my baby was making a funny face - he was probably only about 20 months. I felt bonkers as that was the only symptom but it felt off.

He had white spots all over his throat and inflamed tonsils.

In my experience the only time they don’t see you if for really clear stuff - like when I had bitten my fingernail and the pharmacist said I needed the GP to prescribe something.

I think the surgeries refusing to modernise and put proper improvements in place are reprehensible.

There is a bug going around like that... BUT blood in things and funny smelling breath need to be checked out ASAP. Another vote for diabetes.

Tested ASAP. Crohns, ulcerative colitis, stomach abscess, potentially diabetes, piles as a, secondary problem, maybe even a virus

My youngest grandchild (7) shows the symptoms of diabetes. She has other diagnoses as well. We've been through A&E a few times, at least three times a year (always needed) but have been refused diabetes testing. It's a post code lottery, even for children's health.

Blood in poo is pretty serious OP get her to the doctor

My point is more that the default is phone now. You used to go in and dr would the whole physiological picture. Now they have what you say. My drs good at seeing kids but not at insisting adults seen face to face.

I am guessing they did go in and that why op hasn't been back. Her dd was probably admitted and she will be at her bedside. It takes days to get the dosages of medication right and to train the parents.

I have two friends who have DC diagnosed with diabetes in very similar situations to this. Only commented so I can see the update later.

Hope she is ok, op. My first thought was diabetes too x

I don’t think you need 111, OP. Blood in poo = GP

My entire point was that medical help should be the FIRST action, not that she shouldn't post about it at all. I literally wrote MN should not be a substitute or a first port of call for medical advice. Get medical attention for your daughter asap, and then post.

I do wish people would READ!