My 6 year old smells like poop

[Anonymous]

Trimethylaminuria - a disorder in which the body breaks down food, but isn’t able to get rid of the resulting foul smelling odor and it ends up creeping out into sweat/pores.

[Anonymous]

Not all tonsil stones are easily seen, I think it's a real possibility. Have you looked at his tonsils with a flashlight?

[Anonymous]

Try having him gargle with warm salt water if you think he can gargle. Some kids can/can't at that age. If it is stones or bacteria, that can help dislodge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trimethylaminuria - a disorder in which the body breaks down food, but isn’t able to get rid of the resulting foul smelling odor and it ends up creeping out into sweat/pores.

This was my first thought too! Is there a fishy smell in addition to the poop smell?

[Anonymous]

When my son was 6 I felt like he was starting to smell and I remember thinking “Already? He hasn’t hit puberty!” I washed everything in defunkify detergent and thereafter separated socks and underwear, which now get washed on hot. Bedding also gets washed on hot and pillows get dried on hot regularly. I make sure bedroom shades are up for sunlight and air out the room regularly. Clothing gets washed on warm. Cold doesn’t get smells out.

His clothes didn’t smell, and I thought he had BO. But since doing all this and adding an air purifier to his room, I haven’t noticed him stinking. We didn’t up any personal hygiene because I was already bathing and flossing him daily.

[Anonymous]

+1 to tonsil stones- they are hidden, they can develop without other sinus issues/symptoms, and they really smell

[Anonymous]

Is he constipated or does he complain about stomach aches? It could be a digestive issue, coming from his mouth or passing gas. I suggest a visit to a gastroenterologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get Wet ones for him to wipe with after going potty.

we keep baby wipes for this purpose by all of the toilets in our house (and he uses them) but I will try Wet Ones as well!

Do NOT flush them down the toilet, even the flushable ones do not flush! This clogs the sewer system. Put them in a garbage can. It won't only clog the sewer systems, but can backup into your own home.

https://www.dcwater.com/whats-going-on/blog/unflushables#:~:text=Wipes%20can%20also%20bond%20with,into%20our%20streets%20or%20waterways.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/flushable-wipes-clogging-sewers/2021/04/23/5e8bbc82-a2c9-11eb-a774-7b47ceb36ee8_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Thanks for all these responses.

I've never seen him scratch his butt or belly button before but he could very well be doing that when I am not looking. It just
trimmed his fingernails a few days ago and didn't notice a smell coming from his fingers but will check again.

He is healthy and doesn't have any tonsil, ear or scalp issues. He has had athletes foot that has been cleared up. I expect it to come
back in the summertime though.

Passing gas makes the most logical sense. That would just be an awful lot of farts he can't feel.

I will try to see the doctor soon instead of waiting until next month!

My 7yr old will audibly fart sitting next to me and sincerely swear he didn’t.

[Anonymous]

Does your kid eat protein bars or any low sugar or high fiber processed / prepackaged foods? Chickory root is often added for fiber and sugar alcohols are added to low-sugar foods. Both of those ingredients make my kids have constant and extremely pungent flatulence.

Tonsil stones smell gaggingly awful, but not like poop.

When he wipes his own butt, is he getting poop on his sleeves / arms / wrists or other body parts? The tiniest amount of poop will stink and if he is washing his hands, he probably doesn’t scrub up to his elbows. I remember from my sleep deprived baby toddler years looking everywhere to see where the poop smell was coming from or feeling like I was constantly smelling phantom poop even when there was no source.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand how you can’t pinpoint the smell. Can you get close and smell different areas to really discern where it’s coming from? Could it be transferred smell from fabric? Does he bathe daily? If you are showering him, switch to baths at least some of the time to really soak and get every part. Some ideas to check for smell:

-Under fingernails or toenails
-Tongue or behind teeth
-privates or underarms or neck
-rewearing clothes
-stinky sheets or stuffed animals
-stinky winter or sports gear
-musty bedding or playroom rug
-playing with dog

Also try airing out his room and bathroom every morning or at least once a week.

All of this. Check his shoes. He could have stepped in dog poop. Put Baking soda in them leave then vacuum baking soda out. I have always washed my kids shoes but make sure you can.

Have you actually washed your washing machine? You have to clean the filter and wash it with the clean cycle. I usually put vinegar in there but they make things you can put that actually washes the machine. Is there an issue in his room? Does a sewer line go through his room and is broken or something and then the smell gets on him? Can he stay out of his room for a few days and see if smell goes away?

Also, after he showers, make sure he is totally dry before you put on clothes, everywhere so he doesn't get musty.

I would make an appointment now with the doctor, don't wait a month and email them on the portal or call and tell them the issue away from your son, so he doesn't hear it. If the pediatrician can't help ask for a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist or something. Does he say anything hurts? Or is it just a bad smell? Does he still have energy? Anything changed about him? Write it all down and keep it in a notebook to share with the doctor. The appendicitis bit someone else mentioned is interesting, definitely ask the doctor about that, too.

My child who had no issues going to the bathroom, had issues after a trip when he wasn't eating as much fiber and yogurt. We went to the doctor and had to give him miralax. I guess your colon takes 2 weeks to go back in size if its inflamed so I had to do all vegetables, miralax, yogurt, etc and it took us a month+ to get him back in order. I wouldn't do this on your own, ask the doctor and maybe see a specialist. They did tests on my kid and showed us all the poop.

good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

Yep, like others have suggested, my first guess would be tonsil stones. They smell horrific and can cause seriously bad poop-smelling breath that seems like it's just coming from everywhere. They can be easily hidden inside the tonsils.