Seeking All Moms - Lincoln City,OR

depends:

- dehydration (number one cause for bad/funny breath)
- pustules (the white things that form in the back of the throat ... a sign of strep)
- the infected mucus (each bacterial/viral respiratory infection actually has a unique smell that goes along with it... a certain kind of pneumonia actually smells like peanut butter)
- the medication smell mixed with the mucosal smell
- certain poisons give off distinctive odors
- nursing babies all have "butter breath"

Tons of reasons. For a definitive answer... pediatrician time. You can even call the nurses line at any hospital 24/7 describe the issue, and they'll be able to ask you questions and determine whether to bring in immediately, wait until morning, or not to worry at all (that one would come with an explanation).

Funny how? Strep throat has a very distinctive smell.
Bacteria within itself has a smell so different bacteria are going to smell different.
Sometimes a wet bacterial cough and coughing stuff up can have a, sort of, burnt taste to it.
A sweet/fruity smell could indicate diabetes.
Someone with an ammonia smell or a fishy type smell could mean that they have a kidney problem.
If it smells like poop, it could be an intestinal obstruction.
Do you give her vitamin? Sometimes that is just the after effects of the vitamins, kind of like after you eat onion, you have that smell to your breath.
I am assuming that since you are asking about it, that you know it is nothing that she has eaten and that it is something that is always there.
Is she brushing her teeth properly and are you sure she doesn't have an infected tooth - sometimes a pussy tooth can give out an odor and a taste.
There are so many things it could be and without knowing the specifics it is hard to tell. But that should give you a little insight as to a few things that I know of that it could be. I am sure there are more things/reasons but those are just a few that I have seen in the hospital working as a nurse.

C.,
I personally can smell a change in all my kids' breath when they are sick with any type of common cold, etc. It is usually my first warning sign...they just smell like they are sick?!

If there is "crud" running down the back of her throat then that can cause a change in breath. It can also be a sign of a sinus infection - so you may want to check that.

I would suspect strep throat. I can always smell that in my children...sometimes before they even act sick.

Infection. She is probaby ill w/ something. I would call your doctor

Guessing she has an infection?