My 14 month old adopted daughter has excessive body odor. I need to bathe her everyday or she smells sweaty. She had a stomach virus a month ago and completely quit eating and drinking, a blood test showed that her glucose level was 40 mg/dl [2.2 mmol/L], and they thought it may be off because she was dehydrated.

The doctor suggested that she have this re-tested at her one year appointment, but a different doctor said that it wasn’t necessary. Last night, she was ill again with vomiting and I noticed the sweaty smell even stronger. Should she be tested for a form of diabetes?

Diabetes does not cause a sweaty odor as you describe this in your child. With high sugars and excess fat breakdown, ketones occur which can be detected with a blood or urine test as well as by the presence of a fruity odor from the acetone. (Nail polish remover has acetone.) True sweat excess occurs with early androgen production prior to classical pubertal changes and is a different odor.

I would agree that this is not likely diabetes, but you should consult with your pediatrician once again if this persists or if you have some further questions or doubts. Sometimes a consultation with a pediatric endocrinologist would also be helpful.

SB

[Editor’s comment: Ketones can also occur when the body is starving such as after vomiting.

SS]