I have noticed my daughter sweats a lot at night and she often smells like urine or ammonia. Even my Mom has mentioned that she thought my daughter peed the bed and made her get up to change the sheets and clothes only to find she had not peed at all, but was just sweaty. It is a really strong smell. I hate to call the Dr over something like this but it starting to worry me. I went in tonight to check on her and again her bed is wet and stinks but her pull up and pants are dry and she is just sweaty, but it smells horrible. Has anyone had a child like this? She bathes everyday, sometimes twice a day(she loves the bath), so I know she isn't dirty. I just wonder if this is something I should call the Dr over or not. Thanks!
She does drink a lot(much more than my son) and she does eat meat but also a lot of carbs. and some fruit but very little veggies.
Thanks everyone! I took her to the Dr. last night and they gave me a script for some blood work. I need to have her fasting for it, so hoping we can do it tomorrow morning. And hopefully will get the results before too long. I am hoping it is nothing, but at least now i will know for sure. Thanks again for all your help!
Definitely worth a trip to the doctor, its not something silly so do not be embarrassed to go in! Trust me, it could be something serious, but hopefully it is not.
Add some fresh pineapple to her diet, it's great for the ph in our bodies.
Pay attention to what her pj's are made of, I'd go with 100% cotton. If her pj's or nighties have synthetics in them in cant breathe, makes them sweat, and has an aroma all its own that is not pretty.
Cornstarch her up witha powder puff at night, and by all means make sure she isn't actually too warm in her bed. I dont like being hot at night, the room should not be too warm.... so watch your heater temp. I remember my boys smelling that way off and on when they were little, they had no kidney probs, I just learned to dress them in cotton and make sure their sheets and blankets were cotton as well.
I know lots of kids who eat meat, so this might not be it, BUT, meat-unless you're getting the organic grass fed no hormone no antibiotics kind for a king's ransom at Whole Paycheck and similar stores, is LOADED with toxins. Likewise, veggies will keep all her cells clean and rejuvenated, so you may want to cut the meat and increase the veggies. Good thing she's drinking a lot-as long as it's water an natural juice.
This may be a chemical thing, sounds like a doctor issue.
You are right to be concerned.
There are dietary reasons that the sweat can smell like ammonia. The simple reason is too much protein and not enough carbs and water int he diet to help flush the urea.
Here's a link:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/information/nut...
But, you should have her check out by a Pediatrician to make sure this is just a simple problem with a simple solution. Because the flip is that it could be a sign of kidney disease, failure, shut down....something not simple.
Call your pediatrician. Could just be as simple as having her drink more water, could be a sign of poor kidney function. There is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to you or your family's health.
I agree w/ Sam & adding more carbs but also she probably needs to drink much more water. Water can help dilute the ammonia & help it leave the body easier in the urine. I would take her to the doctor though just to rule out any sort of kidney issue asap though.
The ONLY way to figure this out, is to call the Doctor and take her in.
A smell like that, and being she sweats so much at night, can mean a lot of things.
Hi, I saw you posted on my request about H Pylori last week. I was talking with a nurse friend of mine that said her daughter when she was little smelled like "acetone"...like the smell of nail polish remover. It was because she was not eating and was sick. Acetone on the breath means that the body is likely burning its own fat. This usually occurs when there are fewer calories being consumed than is needed. So, during illnesses, including the common viruses, when food intake is less than optimal, the body switches to use its own fats. If you have a good sense of smell, then it is likely there will be some ketones you can smell. The body is "burning" its own fat - thus ketones are created and the acetone breath or the same smell in urine occurs. I would get a second opinion. I did not notice this smell with my daughter whom was diagnosed with H Pylori. I hope this helps.
I agree with the others. Not silly, worth a call. You could always just ask the nurse and let her gauge if you need to talk to the doc.
Has she been eating a lot of protein? It's typical of a high protein diet (the body breaks down proteins into metabolites similar to ammonia). Try switching up her diet with more carbs and see if it lets up. If not, it might be best to make an appt to see the doctor.
Hello. I am the friend who wrote you yesterday. I just remembered something I read about Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. It is an intestinal infection, affecting about 2 percent of 2-4 year olds. The bacteria gives off urea, making the sweat smell like pee. And it causes vomiting and other off and on tummy trouble. Has your doctor checked for that? I am requesting it for my son.
Call the doctor please. May be nothing but it may also be uremia and you may want to rule out kidney damage.
Hi, J.:
Call your peds nurse and ask her about it.
Good luck. D.
