Acetone in the urine of a child: causes, symptoms and treatment

Normally, a child's mouth should not emit any foreign smell, but there are situations when a foreign smell appears. This naturally alarms young parents and for good reason.

If the smell of acetone appears from the mouth, then this is a direct sign of acetonuria, i.e. the appearance of ketones in the urine and, as a consequence, an increase in acetone in the child.

Causes of occurrence

What does acetone in urine mean? This is an increased content of ketones in the body. Ketones are chemical derivatives derived from fat and protein.

During the normal functioning of the body, their number is normal, but if there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract and metabolic processes slowed down, ketones become too much and they begin to poison the body with toxins.

Therefore, one of the first symptoms of acetone syndrome is the pungent smell of acetone in the urine of a child.

There are several reasons for elevated urine acetone:

• diabetes;
• hypothermia or vice versa overheating;
• hereditary predisposition;
• dehydration;
• unhealthy diet that is excessively rich in carbohydrates;
• disrupted exchange uric acid;
• disruption of work liver;
• prolonged crying and tantrums of the child;
• increased physical and emotional stress;
• viral infections;
• violation of lipid and carbon metabolism;
• anemia;
• stress;
• recent trauma;
• period after surgery;
• excess of the dose of taking antibiotics;
• hunger;
• binge eating;
• oncological diseases.

Symptoms of occurrence

The most important thing is not to miss the first signs of the appearance of elevated acetone and start treatment on time.

Let's take a look at a list of these symptoms:

• the smell of acetone from the mouth;
• the smell of acetone from urine;
• vomit;
• stomach upset;
• increased body temperature;
• general weakness of the body;
• pain in the navel;
• headache;
• dryness of the tongue;
• lack of tears when crying;
• urinating less than 1 time in 6 hours;
• drowsiness;
• loss of body weight;
• insomnia;
• rapid breathing;
• heart palpitations.

Diagnosis of elevated acetone at home

For any sign similar to elevated acetone in a child, you can check whether the guesses are correct or not.

Now in any pharmacy you can buy acetone test strips, on which a special reagent is applied, to determine the amount of ketones in the child's urine.

The method of application is quite simple, you need to lower the test strip in a container with urine for a few seconds and it will turn into the desired color.

There is a strip of flowers on the package, and each color represents the indicator of acetone in the urine of the child.

Normally, there should be no acetone in the urine, but if it is present, you can use a test strip to establish the severity of the condition.

Treatment of elevated acetone

Depending on the severity of the condition, two treatment options will be prescribed:

• at the hospital;
• at home.

During the treatment in the hospital, the following procedures will be prescribed:

• droppers with glucose;
• injections of antiemetic drugs;
• enema;
• taking solutions that normalize the balance of electrolytes.
• antispasmodic medicines;
• taking enzymes;
• taking sorbents;
• antidiarrheal drugs;
• drugs to support cardiac activity (if necessary).

At home includes:

• drinking plenty of broth of raisins and other dried fruits;
• soldering with medicinal water (Borjomi, Essentuki 4 (17);
• drinking plenty of unsweetened tea;
• reception of sorbents (coal, Atoxil, Enterosgel);
• taking medications to restore the balance of electrolytes (Rehydron);
• taking enzymes (Creon, Pancreatin).

Danger of high acetone in urine

An increase in acetone in a child's urine should not be ignored, since untimely treatment, or its absence, can lead to such sad consequences as:

• the risk of developing diabetes;
• hypertension;
• slowing down the metabolism;
• impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver;
• risk of development gallstone disease;
• joint diseases;
• severe dehydration;
• damage to cells and tissues of the brain.

What do traces of acetone in urine mean?

The appearance of traces of acetone in the urine is most often due to a completely different disease. The fact is that a weakened body copes with the elimination of ketones, but it is bad enough. This is called secondary acetone syndrome. Its reasons may be:

• diabetes;
• ARVI;
• thyroid disease;
• viruses of the gastrointestinal tract;
• diseases of the genitourinary system;
• liver and kidney disease;
• period after surgery;
• pharyngitis;
• angina.

Drinking regimen with increased acetone in a child

During the period of illness and recovery after a jump in the level of acetone in the child's body, do not forget about the correct drinking regimen.

Due to significant fluid loss due to diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration of the body, but you should not give your child a lot to drink, because excess water can lead to repeated bouts of vomiting.

Required volume of liquid - 1.5-2 liters per day. Drink a couple of sips every 15-20 minutesThus, the body will have time to assimilate the liquid without rejecting it.

Doctors recommend giving the following drinks to drink:

• clean still water;
• not very sweet tea;
• dried fruit compote (increases glucose levels);
• raisin decoction (includes a large amount of fructose);
• alkaline medicinal water (Borjomi, Essentuki 4 or 17);
• special pharmacy electrolyte solutions (Regidron).

It is very important that the compotes and decoctions were sweet, but the daily rate should be no more than 5 mg per 1 kg of the child's weight.

The order of introduction of products in the first days after relapse

In the early days, perhaps the child will completely refuse to eat. Don't be alarmed, this is absolutely normal. Do not force him to eat, you can provoke a repeated gag reflex. But don't forget to give your baby water.

After the child becomes a little better and the vomiting stops, it is worth starting to introduce products according to the following scheme:

1. 1 day. Wheat or rye bread crumbs.
2. 2nd day. Add rice water and baked apples.
3. Day 3. Add well-cooked rice porridge (you can grind it with a blender or coffee grinder).
4. 4th day. You can offer soup with vegetable broth, the main thing is that it is not greasy and does not contain heavy food.
5. Day 5. You can slowly switch to the usual three meals a day in accordance with the diet recommended with increased acetone.

Diet with high acetone

With elevated acetone, it is imperative to follow a diet in order to reduce the risk of recurrence and improve the child's condition for the period of treatment.

Preference should be given to such products and dishes:

• vegetable soups;
• porridge without oil;
• dried fruit compotes (best of all from apples);
• non-acidic fruits;
• lean meat and fish;
• vegetables in raw, boiled or baked form (potatoes, cabbage, pumpkin, carrots, beetroot);
• low-fat dairy products;
• biscuit biscuits and crackers;
• marmalade, marshmallow.

Of course, it is quite difficult to follow a diet, especially for a child, but still you will have to give up some food for a while:

• carbonated sweet water;
• semi-finished products;
• fatty dairy products;
• seafood;
• conservation;
• smoked meat / fish / sausages, etc.
• sour fruits;
• fatty dairy products;
• tomatoes;
• fried foods;
• spicy dishes;
• wheat flour bread;
• baking;
• confectionery;
• sauces;
• chips, seeds, etc.

It is worth noting that you do not need to immediately load the child's body with a large amount of food. Products should be introduced gradually, each time slightly increasing the portion.

It is necessary to adhere to the principle of fractional nutrition for some time. Raw vegetables should be fed with every meal to get the fiber into the body. Dinner, too, should not be late, at about 18.00.

An approximate menu for the day may look like this:

• Option number 1:
  • 08.00 Breakfast. Oatmeal with milk, half an apple, 2 pcs. biscuit biscuits and unsweetened tea.
  • 10.00. Snack. Pear.
  • 13.00. Dinner. Vegetable soup, a slice of boiled beef, a couple of croutons and dried fruit compote.
  • 15.00. Snack. A small bunch of grapes.
  • 17.00. Buckwheat porridge with a piece of boiled breast, cabbage salad, marmalade 2 pcs. and unsweetened tea.
• Option number 2:
  • 08.00. Breakfast. Semolina porridge with a spoonful of jam. Banana. Unsweetened tea.
  • 10.00. Galette cookies and raisin decoction.
  • 13.00. Dinner. Secondary chicken broth soup, boiled egg, stewed cabbage, unsweetened tea.
  • 15.00. Snack. Baked apple.
  • 17.00. Rice porridge with a slice of boiled pollock, 2 marshmallows, unsweetened tea.

Prevention of the occurrence of elevated acetone in the urine of a child

To minimize the possibility of elevated acetone in urine, you need to follow a few simple rules:

• adherence to the correct daily routine;
• eliminate harmful, high-carbon foods;
• go in for sports or at least just be in the fresh air more often;
• taking multivitamin preparations;
• hardening;
• good nutrition, exclusion of strict low-calorie diets;
• avoid overheating and hypothermia;
• in the presence of concomitant diseases, regular visits to the doctor and the implementation of all his recommendations;
• exclusion of self-medication.

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