The smell of acetone from the child's mouth: causes, what to do, treatment methods, prevention of relapse

Bad breath in adults is a common occurrence. The reason for this is the prolonged irregular care of the oral cavity. In children, this problem is much less common and therefore greatly worries worried parents. Especially alarming for mothers and fathers is the smell of acetone from the child’s mouth, as its causes lie in metabolic disorders. How dangerous this is for the baby, and whether it is possible to prevent the consequences, this article will tell.

Where does acetone come from in the body

Acetone is formed in the human body through natural metabolism. This substance is included in the group of organic compounds - ketones - which are formed during the incomplete decomposition of fat and protein macromolecules. Ketone bodies are toxic, but in the body of healthy people they are neutralized during certain reactions, converted into safe components and excreted, therefore they do not accumulate and do not have time to harm living cells. That is why the mouth of children and adults usually does not smell like acetone.

If ketones are formed more intensively, the body does not have time to neutralize and dispose of them, so they have time to accumulate in living tissues and cause harm to them. As a result, the smell of acetone appears, emanating from the mucous membranes, especially the oral cavity. This phenomenon is called acetonemic syndrome, which is manifested not only by an unpleasant odor, but also by a number of other symptoms.

Symptoms of acetonemic syndrome in children

The main symptom of this syndrome is the sensation of a characteristic acetone breath in a child. At the same time, signs of dysfunctions of internal organs are manifested:

• Intermittent vomiting.
• Constant thirst.
• Weakness.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Itchy skin.
• Fever.
• Dark circles under the eyes.
• Stomach ache.
• The smell of acetone from urine.
• Violation of nervous regulation, psychosis, coma.

In children, the acetonemic syndrome manifests itself as more tangible signs than in adults, due to the vulnerability of the child's body.

Why does the child smell like acetone

It is impossible to figure out on your own why a child has a smell of acetone from his mouth, because this phenomenon is provoked by many factors. The appearance of ketones is due to a more rapid decay of proteins and fats, which are used to fill the energy needs instead of missing carbohydrates. This occurs with such violations:

• Inadequate supply of glucose in the body with malnutrition or refusal of food. In adolescents - subject to dieting for weight loss.
• The presence of diabetes. Pathological deficiency of insulin leads to the fact that the cells are critically deficient in glucose, while in the blood its amount is excessive.
• Failure in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which provokes the active breakdown of organics in the body.
• Violation of the natural filters - the kidneys and liver (happens in newborns).
• Severely transmitted infections, including colds, rotovirus. Fever causes dehydration, which automatically causes an increase in the content of various substances in the internal environment of the body.
• Acetonemia is a regular manifestation of the inherited acetone syndrome, especially in the male line.
• Neuro-arthritic diathesis is a phenomenon that often occurs in girls and is associated with a decrease in liver function.
• Nerve stress.
• Helminthic diseases.

The described diseases are serious and varied, therefore, it is necessary to look for the causes of the smell of acetone from the mouth in a child under the strict guidance of a doctor. All examinations should be completed and the requirements prescribed by the doctor must be strictly followed.

Diagnosis of the syndrome and causes of the smell of acetone from the mouth in a child

The reason why a child smells of acetone in his mouth can be identified using such examinations:

Urine Acetone Test Strip

A generalized treatment regimen for the smell of acetone from the mouth in a child

Treatment of a child admitted to the clinic with a complaint of the smell of acetone from the mouth includes the following areas:

• Normalization of the internal environment of the body, the concentration of glucose, water and other components in the blood.
• Normalization of the level of acetone in the tissues.
• Treatment of the disease leading to acetonemic intoxication.

In a hospital, a child can be injected with glucose in the form of pharmacy drugs. Infusion of drugs through droppers is effective, especially if the baby has severe vomiting, because of which he cannot eat or drink. Doctors at the same time struggle with such an unpleasant symptom, prescribing antiemetics to a small patient.

If the cause of the pathology lies in a decrease in the function of any organ, drugs are required to support it. With an endocrine gland disorder, hormone therapy is needed. To restore the body after improving well-being, it is useful to do feasible physical exercises, more often to be in the fresh air.

What can parents do if the child smells of acetone from his mouth

If a child smells of acetone from his mouth, parents should not do anything without the knowledge of a doctor - self-medication can lead to serious complications. However, some simple actions are recommended by the doctors themselves. Activities at home are aimed at replenishing the normal amount of glucose and water in the body, as well as cleansing tissues from ketones:

• You can give your child a sweet compote, mineral still water. With frequent vomiting, in order not to provoke urges, you should give a drink of one teaspoon every few minutes. Teenagers - up to two tablespoons.
• You need to drink the child on demand, even at night.
• It is better to feed the baby with soft food: vegetable puree, baked apple, rice broth. You should coordinate your diet with your doctor. Forcing a sick baby to eat is harmful and dangerous.
• Sorbents are used to remove toxic metabolic products.

Effective sorbents

After consulting with your doctor, you can give your baby Regidron to normalize the balance of water and ions.

Prevention of relapse after treatment

If the child already had the smell of acetone from his mouth, then there could be relapses. When contacting a doctor, you need to discuss a diet with him, which will need to be followed for 2-3 weeks after the next manifestation of a high acetone level. Its general rules are as follows:

Particular care must be taken to monitor the nutrition of adolescents who often try to lose weight using diets. Ways to lose weight, massively described on the Internet and distributed among young people, can lead to unpredictable health consequences. If the child does have excess weight diagnosed by the doctor, his diet should be developed in conjunction with a professional nutritionist.

If the child has an acetone breath, everything should be done to show it to the doctor as soon as possible. Even if this is the first case, it is necessary to establish its cause, since such a symptom may indicate the development of serious pathologies. Not to treat him means to put the baby in serious danger.