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Children's health

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Original poster

What’s the smell?

34 replies

AdogAndACat · 29/10/2023 12:43

Son is and always has been extremely hygienic if not a bit OTT sometimes although over I’d say the past three weeks I can smell something a little off. I don’t know what it could be as he has a bath once a day (or now a shower) and brushes his teeth two-three times a day. I make sure he changes into clean clothes everyday too so it’s not that. It’s not sweat either because he has it even on cold days. Is there any sort of condition that would cause this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

AdogAndACat · 29/10/2023 16:12

Tiredmum100 · 29/10/2023 16:10

Does he have eczema behind his ears?

No eczema

@StellaAndCrow I don’t think he does but I’ll give him a check over in a second just to be sure

OP posts:

greenacrylicpaint · 29/10/2023 16:13

round that age my boys started to get that 'tiger cage' smell.
hygiene was good and nothing changed.
it's boys starting to change.
totally normal.

Highlyflavouredgravy · 29/10/2023 16:13

Testosterone
They reek of it for a few years. Especially their bedrooms.

Original poster

AdogAndACat · 29/10/2023 16:45

Checked his nostrils and ears and couldn’t see anything, I could smell it a bit again. It’s just so strange. I suppose it could be just hormonal, just surprised at the smell

OP posts:

rcat74 · 29/10/2023 16:57

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trimethylaminuria/#:~:text=Trimethylaminuria%20(TMAU)%20is%20an%20uncommon,are%20things%20that%20can%20help.
I have a relative who has this and it was awful when he was a teenager. He can’t eat fish and has to be careful with curry.

Trimethylaminuria ('fish odour syndrome')

Read more about trimethylaminuria which is an uncommon genetic disorder that causes a strong body odour, usually described as like rotting fish, poo or rubbish.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trimethylaminuria/#:~:text=Trimethylaminuria%20(TMAU)%20is%20an%20uncommon,are%20things%20that%20can%20help.

RoseHarper · 29/10/2023 17:06

Teen boys have a very particular smell, DS does, and his room even though he showers every day, has clean clothes/bedding etc. I assume it's a hormone thing as not a specific BO smell. I use Dettol laundry sanitiser on his shirts as they seem to hold the smell. I've read that mums are very sensitive to the smell and it's an evolutionary thing to stop mums finding their sons attractive. This is weird in itself but kind of makes sense.

IHateTuesday · 30/10/2023 10:11

[If you’re eating breakfast don’t read for your own safety] if it’s a fishy smell could it be smegma under the foreskin that he hasn’t washed?

Original poster

AdogAndACat · 31/10/2023 08:45

IHateTuesday · 30/10/2023 10:11

[If you’re eating breakfast don’t read for your own safety] if it’s a fishy smell could it be smegma under the foreskin that he hasn’t washed?

It could be, I didn’t think about that. No idea how I would go about checking if it is though 😳

OP posts:

eatdrinkandbemerry · 31/10/2023 08:48

It's definitely a hormone smell.
We are out the other side of it now but i remember my son smelling awful and he's disabled so we were in charge of his hygiene.

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