Causes of body odor in children, from normal to signs of disease

Body odor in children will normally appear near puberty. However, it can also happen earlier than it should be. What causes body odor in children? Check out the following reviews to find out whether the cause can be overcome or is a symptom of a disease that requires special treatment from a doctor.

Body odor in children

Changes in the smell of sweat in children will occur along with the development of their bodies, namely when they enter adolescence and go through puberty. Girls usually go through puberty first, which is around the age of 8 to 12 years. While boys, will experience puberty around the age of 9 years to 12 years. It is at this age that children will experience a change in the smell of sweat. Which initially smelled faintly until it really smelled bad.

Common causes of body odor in children

A common cause of body odor that occurs in children, can still be overcome with some hygiene treatments at home. Knowing the cause of body odor will make it easier for parents to deal with body odor. Here are some of the causes, such as:

Poor hygiene

This is the most common cause of body odor in children. When the child is not clean, especially in the area around the armpits, groin, and between the fingers or toes. Bacteria can collect in the area because they are not carried by water. In addition, clothes that are not washed properly can also cause bacteria that were previously attached to not disappear. Using clothes that are not completely dry can also be the cause, especially when children have to deal with sunlight.

To avoid this, children must learn to maintain personal hygiene, for example, take a clean and routine bath. Then, keep the clothes, shoes, or anything that is used by the child on their body clean.

Eating foods that trigger body odor

Some foods not only affect the smell of the child's breath, they also affect the odor on the body. These foods usually have a distinctive odor or trigger substance which once ingested, the smell will seep through the skin pores and cause body odor. Reporting from Mom Junction, some of the foods that cause body odor in these children are:

Red meat has an amino acid derivative called carnitine. Too much carnitine can make changes to body odor.
Milk contains protein which can take longer to digest than other foods. So excess consumption of dairy products can cause the release of methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide in the body. This process causes a foul odor to come out. The likelihood of body odor from milk may be higher if the child is lactose intolerant.
Processed foods made from flour, especially those that are low in fiber.
Foods with sugar, shallots, garlic and other seasonings.
Food smells like fish, eggs, and peas.

Early puberty

Puberty is the phase of attaining sexual maturity in girls and boys. At this time, they undergo many hormonal changes resulting in changes in body and behavior, one of which is body odor. If a child experiences body odor during puberty, which is around the age of 10-14 years, then parents don't need to worry because this is normal. Just tell and teach them how to solve it.

However, some children can experience premature puberty. Early puberty can be caused by various things, including hormonal disorders and genetic factors.

Disease can also cause body odor in children

Apart from hygiene and food, body odor can also arise due to several diseases. When this happens, a doctor's help is needed to get the right diagnosis and treatment. Here are some diseases that cause body odor, such as:

1. Phenylketonuria

One of the diseases caused by metabolic disorders when the baby is born is that there is no phenylalanine hydroxylase, which is an enzyme needed to break down amino acids. As a result, a musty smell appears on the skin, earwax, breath, and urine. In addition, phenylketonuria can cause intellectual and developmental disabilities in the body because it disrupts the process of breaking down amino acid proteins found in milk, meat and eggs. If left untreated, high phenylalanine levels can cause damage to the brain.

2. Adrenarche

This is a term used when a child experiences premature sexual maturation (early puberty). The reason is that the production of hormones such as DHEA has increased, so signs of puberty, such as pubic and underarm hair, acne, and changes in the smell of sweat can occur earlier. This condition occurs in children under eight years in girls and nine years in boys.

3. Hyperhidrosis

This condition causes the child to sweat excessively to maintain a normal body temperature. This occurs because of an infection, hormonal imbalance due to puberty, or other chronic conditions that cause the sweat glands to produce too much sweat. If excessive sweating is confined to certain parts of the body, the child may have focal hyperhidrosis.

4. Trimethylaminuria

Trimethylaminuria is a rare condition caused by a metabolic abnormality in the production of the enzyme flavin. This causes the body to be unable to break down trimethylamine resulting in an increase in bacteria in the digestive system. As a result, the smell of fish will be wafted in the sweat, urine and breath of the child. This disease is also known as fish odor syndrome.

4. Isovaleric acidemia

This condition causes the baby to experience the distinctive odor of sweaty feet or an unpleasant odor. This occurs due to the accumulation of isovaleric acid compounds in the body that affect blood, urine and tissues. This buildup can become toxic and cause health problems. Newborns who experience this condition can experience vomiting, seizures, and lethargy a few days after birth.