Acetone in the urine of a child: diet, what not to eat and what to feed

Acetonemic syndrome is triggered by an increase in the number of ketone bodies in the blood. The pronounced smell of acetone from the mouth is the first sign of this pathology.

This is a serious problem that needs timely and competent therapy.

In addition to drug treatment, a diet is prescribed with acetone in the child’s urine (what cannot be eaten and what can be analyzed further), which must be observed until the acetone content is normalized.

Acetonemic syndrome can develop in children of the first year of life and disturb until puberty. Often after 12 years, the syndrome disappears forever. Ketone bodies are formed in the liver from food that enters the body. Almost all fats and proteins are suitable for this.

Ketone bodies are a source of energy for the body if their concentration in the blood is low. In the case of an increase in their number, a person begins all sorts of health problems. They are often accompanied by vomiting. This is due to the fact that ketone bodies are toxic in large quantities.

Reasons for the appearance

The most common causes of acetone syndrome are:

• in the overwhelming majority of cases, an unbalanced diet leads to this pathology. A child’s body needs more carbohydrates for health and full development than an adult. In the case of their lack, the number of ketone bodies in the blood increases, causing acetone syndrome; 

• fasting; 

• liver dysfunctions (obesity, etc.) can cause fever, odor of acetone from the mouth, etc .; 

• children’s dysbiosis causes fermentation processes, due to which part of the carbohydrates obtained from food loses its value, being split in the intestines. In such a case, a lack of carbohydrates develops; 

• malfunction of the pancreas, which is involved in the digestion of carbohydrates and can cause the development of the syndrome; 

• stress is a hindrance to carbohydrate metabolism. Then the body uses fats for its needs; 

• the presence of such pathologies: diabetes mellitus, tumor or neuro-arthritic diathesis. 

Symptoms

Acetonemic syndrome is accompanied by a noticeable deterioration in well-being in the form of the following symptoms:

• frequent vomiting that appears when trying to eat;
• pallor;
• blue circles under the eyes, headache;
• violation of consciousness;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• temperature up to 38 ° С;
• paroxysmal abdominal pain (children point to the navel area);
• urine and vomit with the smell of acetone or fermentation;
• specific “acetone” smell from the mouth.

If a child has these symptoms, you should immediately contact a medical facility. A qualified physician will examine and order the necessary laboratory tests to confirm the initial diagnosis. Based on the results of laboratory tests, the child is selected the appropriate treatment and assigned a dietary menu.

If the child’s condition deteriorates rapidly and vomiting does not stop, intravenous fluids are used.

This measure helps to cope with ketone body intoxication and prevent dehydration.

With a timely visit to a doctor and competent treatment, the child’s condition improves on the second – fourth day. In parallel with drug treatment, a special diet is prescribed for increased acetone in the urine of children.

To determine the amount of ketone bodies in urine, test strips are used.

Diet with acetone in urine in children during the crisis

How to feed a child with acetone in urine? Once the child has become ill, he should not be given solid food. Especially if you feel unwell accompanied by vomiting.

1st day

Drink as much liquid as possible. This is necessary to avoid dehydration of the child’s body.

Drink in small sips, pausing so as not to provoke an attack of vomiting.

The most healthy drinks: Borjomi, Morshinskaya and other alkaline mineral waters, dried fruit compote without added sugar, Regidron.

If vomiting stops, you can give your baby a crouton of ordinary bread, without any additives.

2nd day

Drink, as on the first day, and gnaw crackers. Rice broth and baked apple are allowed. It is strictly forbidden to give your child oil and fats.

3rd day

To the diet of the first days, you can add grated liquid rice, buckwheat porridge, boiled in water.

4th day

Rice porridge, soup with vegetable broth, biscuit biscuits and the same drink.

5th day

If the baby’s health is improving, you can diversify the menu by adding boiled low-fat fish or meat.

You can also add mashed potatoes in water to the diet.

You can give your child 1% fat kefir and fresh fruit juice with pulp, better than your own preparation.

Further nutrition

As soon as the baby is on the mend, you should continue to adhere to proper nutrition. It is important to exclude foods that can provoke a new exacerbation.

What can a child eat with acetone in urine:

• buckwheat, oatmeal, corn and wheat porridge;
• sour milk, low-fat kefir, yogurt and cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, yogurt;
• honey;
• jam;
• caramel and marmalade;
• green tea, compotes;
• one chicken egg per day;
• citrus fruits: lemon, grapefruit;
• meat: rabbit, chicken, turkey, beef;
• soups cooked in vegetable broth, or borscht;
• fish: hake, pollock, pelengas, blue whiting and other low-fat species;
• raw, baked, boiled vegetables: cucumber, carrots, beets, zucchini, pumpkin, onions, cabbage, potatoes;
• dried fruits and fresh fruits, fruit drinks from fresh berries;
• in moderation, hazelnuts or walnuts.

With an increased content of acetone, the following should not be included in the diet:

• fast food;
• puff pastry products;
• chips, snacks;
• fat meat;
• meat offal;
• broths cooked on meat;
• canned food;
• smoking;
• fatty fish;
• shrimp, mussels and caviar;
• mushrooms;
• cauliflower, radish, turnip, sorrel, spinach, radish;
• legumes;
• sauces, mayonnaise, mustard, pepper;
• kiwi, chocolate, cocoa;
• carbonated drinks.

It is necessary to observe the necessary drinking regime. It is advisable to use mineral alkaline and slightly mineralized waters, decoctions of herbs, rose hips, dried fruits. In the autumn-winter period, a course of vitamin therapy should be carried out.

When drawing up a diet for a child with acetonemia, you need to remember some rules:

• Combine fats only with carbohydrates: add oil to porridge or vegetable stew; cutlets only with vegetables or cereals; sour cream only in vegetable soup or in a casserole made from cereals; 

• take into account the preferences of the child, gradually adjusting the diet. Each child may develop intolerance to a particular product, so you need to carefully monitor his reaction to new dishes. 

In addition to a carefully selected diet, the baby’s lifestyle should be revised. It is necessary to be more with him in the fresh air, occupying him with outdoor games.

Limit TV viewing and being in front of a computer monitor. If all the above recommendations are followed, a child with acetone syndrome will feel healthy and delight parents with their excellent mood.

It is necessary to include a contrast shower and sleep at least 9-10 hours a day in the daily routine .