A person smells of acetone: causes, diagnosis, possible diseases, treatment

According to scientists, people choose their soulmate based on body odor. It is believed that it is the sense of smell that allows you to select a partner with the most suitable set of genes. After all, a person is capable of secreting pheromones: substances that arouse interest in the opposite sex. However, there are situations when a particular odor emanating from the body should be perceived as a distress signal. After all, it can indicate the presence of a fairly serious disease. Doctors say that some diseases have their own “flavor”. Exactly how diseases smell and what you should pay attention to when a new smell appears - in the material AiF.ru.

How does the smell appear?

Fat metabolism disorders are the main reason why a person smells of acetone. What does it mean? During the metabolism of fatty acids, their breakdown products are formed - ketone bodies. They are the ones that give off the acetate smell.

Normally, the level of ketone bodies in the body is very low. They are quickly oxidized in the muscles and lungs, releasing large amounts of energy.

If a person smells like acetone, this means that ketones are accumulating in the body. This is observed when there is a violation of carbohydrate metabolism. Ketone bodies negatively affect the acid-base balance in the body. They shift the pH to the acidic side. Doctors call this disorder ketoacidosis. This condition poses a great health risk. Excess ketones have toxic effects on various organs.

Smell of vinegar

A person's sweat can sometimes smell like vinegar. It is important to understand that the appearance of such a symptom is accompanied by increased sweating. Among the reasons why this problem may develop:

• Endocrine disorders
• Lack of vitamins D and B
• Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the lungs
• Mastopathy

If we are talking about disruptions in the endocrine system, the body may experience a lack of iodine. This immediately leads to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. It is quite possible to recognize tuberculosis by the vinegary odor from the body, because in this case, symptoms such as severe cough, fatigue, weakness and fever will appear. Women are not recommended to ignore such a smell: it can indicate serious problems with the breasts.

Possible reasons

What disease causes a person to smell of acetone? The accumulation of ketones can occur with various ailments. Most often, ketoacidosis develops against the background of the following pathological conditions:

• diabetes mellitus;
• pathologies of the liver and kidneys;
• disorders of the thyroid gland;
• infectious diseases;
• deficiency of carbohydrates in food;
• long fasting.

Next, we will consider in detail the above diseases and methods of treating them.

What type of coma causes the smell of acetone?

In almost every case of the development of a coma, patients experience an acetone odor emanating from the mouth or body.

What kind of coma causes the smell of acetone from the mouth:

• alcoholic;
• uremic;
• hepatic;
• diabetic: hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic.

Alcoholic

An acetonemic aroma can be heard from a person with alcohol poisoning. With excessive alcohol consumption, a coma occurs in almost everyone; a small amount of alcohol-containing drinks can cause a coma only in people with absolute ethyl intolerance.

If medical assistance is not promptly provided to a person who has fallen into an alcoholic coma, death is possible.

In a deep coma, the patient is unconscious, reflexes fade, and blood pressure drops. The skin turns blue, the body becomes covered with sticky sweat, and a strong smell of alcohol is felt from the mouth.

Uremic

Adults may fall into uremic coma caused by chronic renal failure. The latter develops against the background of such diseases and disorders as:

• glomerulonephritis;
• pyelonephritis;
• arteriosclerotic wrinkled kidney.

In addition to the acetonic odor from the mouth, these diseases may cause symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, thirst, hoarseness, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and lethargy.

Hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic coma

With increased glucose levels in the blood serum (more than 3.3–5.5 mmol/l), hyperglycemia develops. Not only people with diabetes are susceptible to the development of hyperglycemic coma; the following reasons for this condition and the appearance of the smell of acetone are known:

• pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer;
• endocrine disorders;
• infection;
• pathologies of the liver, kidneys;
• genetic disorders;
• eating a lot of calories;
• prolonged stress;
• exceeding permissible physical activity.

A precomatose state can be recognized by symptoms such as nausea, weakness, vomiting, rapid breathing, cold lower and upper extremities.

Treatment of hyperglycemic coma involves lowering blood glucose levels by taking insulin.

Hypoglycemic coma can also be accompanied by increased production of ketone bodies. In the acetonemic state caused by hypoglycemia, the level of glucose in the blood serum drops to such low levels that brain tissue begins to experience energy starvation. The glucose level in this pathology is 1.5–2.5 mmol/l.

Hepatic coma

Hepatic coma develops with severe liver damage that depresses the central nervous system. The acetonemic aroma is caused by liver disorders such as toxic degenerative lesions, extensive necrotic processes, and cirrhotic changes in viral hepatitis.

Pathology can be recognized by the following signs:

• increasing lethargy;
• increased sweating;
• disorientation;
• confusion;
• yellowing of the skin.

If you come into close contact with a person who has fallen into a hepatic coma, you can smell the characteristic smell of liver coming from their mouth. The occurrence of acetonemic vomiting cannot be excluded.

Diabetes

Why does a person's breath smell like acetone? Most often this is associated with diabetes. With this disease, the patient has reduced production of insulin by the pancreas. This hormone is necessary for the processing and absorption of glucose, which serves as a source of energy for the body. Insulin deficiency leads to serious consequences. Unsplit glucose is no longer absorbed by tissues. The body has to take energy from proteins and fats. Active breakdown of lipids occurs, which causes excess ketones.

If a person with diabetes smells of acetone, this is an alarming sign. Such symptoms indicate a decompensated form of the pathology, which is difficult to treat. In severe cases, the patient falls into a ketoacidotic coma. This is a life-threatening condition.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is accompanied by other symptoms:

• thirst;
• frequent and excessive urination;
• severe weakness;
• drying of mucous membranes and skin;
• drowsiness;
• nausea and vomiting;
• lethargy;
• headache.

Ketoacidosis in diabetes is treated in a hospital setting. If the patient is in a coma, he is placed in the intensive care unit. Patients are given infusion solutions, this helps eliminate metabolic disorders. The optimal daily dosage of insulin is selected for the patient. Therapy is carried out under the control of the level of sugar and ketone bodies in plasma and urine.

Causes of acetone taste in the mouth

Low calorie diet

With a long-term restriction in carbohydrates, which are the main “fuel material,” the body begins to use reserves of proteins and fats to obtain energy.
Massive breakdown of fats is accompanied by the formation of ketone bodies (hydroxybutyric, acetoacetic acids), which determine the characteristic taste. These substances penetrate into saliva, so a person is constantly bothered by an irritating chemical taste. The symptom is detected in women following the Kremlin, French and other low-calorie diets. Acetone in the mouth is most noticeable in the morning; after breakfast and brushing your teeth, the intensity of taste discomfort decreases. In severe cases, the urine also takes on the smell of acetone; the sour aroma of “pickled apples” comes from the breath and is noticeable by others at a distance of up to 1 m. The accumulation of ketone bodies is toxic to the brain, so you should immediately consult a doctor.

Alcohol

Ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages changes the normal course of biochemical reactions, activates catabolic processes and the synthesis of ketone compounds. An unpleasant taste appears in the mouth the next morning after a heavy meal in combination with alcohol intoxication, while the taste of acetone is mixed with bitterness or a sour aftertaste, so a person does not always detect a specific chemical taste. The disorder goes away on its own within 1 day.

In people suffering from alcoholism, the taste of acetone is observed regularly, more often in the morning. Its appearance is caused by severe disorders of the liver and digestive system, and a lack of vitamins. The condition is aggravated by drinking large amounts of alcohol on an empty stomach. In this case, in addition to the acetone taste, a sharp chemical odor from the mouth, frequent and noisy breathing, and impaired consciousness may appear.

Heavy physical activity

An increase in ketone bodies is possible in professional athletes, men involved in bodybuilding, during the drying period. When carbohydrates are limited, the body begins to actively consume fats to cover increasing energy needs. An unpleasant taste can occur at any time of the day. The symptom is short-lived and disappears after rinsing the mouth with water or eating. A constant strong taste of acetone is an indication for a visit to a specialist.

Acetonemic syndrome

The condition is typical for childhood, most often its symptoms are detected in children 5-6 years old. The child becomes lethargic and complains of nausea; older children notice an unusual taste in the mouth that they cannot clearly describe. Against the background of these symptoms, repeated vomiting occurs; the vomit has a specific acetone odor. If the taste of acetone and episodes of vomiting appear periodically for no apparent reason, they speak of an idiopathic version of the syndrome.

Secondary acetone syndrome, which is caused by somatic or infectious diseases, often occurs. In this case, against the background of general malaise, children complain of an unpleasant taste of acetone in the mouth, severe nausea, and patients refuse to eat. Vomiting begins, after which the child becomes even worse. The disorder is sometimes observed during high fever following tonsil removal.

Pregnancy

Hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman are common causes of the taste of acetone in the mouth. Sometimes the symptom is observed during normal gestation, more often in the first trimester, when various changes in taste sensations occur. Pregnant women note that a taste appears after drinking certain foods, coffee or tea. The symptom does not require treatment and usually disappears on its own in the second half of gestation.

Pathological reasons usually lead to the sensation of acetone taste in the mouth. Most often it develops with early toxicosis. Pregnant women complain of a strong unpleasant taste that occurs against the background of painful nausea and vomiting. Due to forced fasting, proteins and fats are broken down in the body, so with prolonged toxicosis, taste discomfort increases. Sometimes the taste of acetone develops in the 2-3 trimesters, which is associated with gestosis in pregnant women.

Diabetes

The taste of acetone is not typical for the initial period of the disease. More often it occurs with long-term diabetes mellitus against the background of intercurrent diseases. The unpleasant taste is accompanied by severe dry mouth and excruciating thirst, forcing patients to drink 5-7 liters of water per day. The sensation of taste bothers a person constantly; even brushing your teeth and eating cannot get rid of it. The symptom is much more often detected in young people who have type 1 diabetes.

Ketoacidosis

The accumulation of ketone compounds in the blood in the complete absence of insulin is the most dangerous complication of diabetes mellitus. Predisposing causes: missing insulin injections, heavy physical work, fever. The severity of ketoacidosis increases gradually over 1-2 days: first, a faint taste of acetone appears, thirst increases, then general weakness increases, breathing becomes frequent and noisy, and an acetone smell is heard from the exhaled air.

Ketoacidosis is often the first manifestation of diabetes mellitus in children. Symptoms occur in the midst of complete well-being; the child often cannot describe the unpleasant taste that appears. The condition worsens very quickly, over several hours. Parents pay attention to the strong acetone odor from the mouth. If medical care is not provided, loss of consciousness and the development of a precomatous state may occur.

Thyrotoxicosis

An increase in the level of thyroxine in the blood leads to an acceleration of metabolism and intensive breakdown of protein compounds. Patients with hyperthyroidism note an unpleasant acetone taste that appears for no reason. The symptom is observed periodically, the taste of acetone decreases after brushing the teeth. The severity of uncomfortable taste sensations increases with dehydration and prolonged exposure to the sun in the hot season.

Liver pathology

If the liver parenchyma fails, the neutralization of toxic compounds in the body is impaired, and under-oxidized metabolic products accumulate in the blood. Chemical compounds penetrate the salivary glands and are released into the oral cavity, causing an unpleasant taste, described by patients as the taste of acetone, a solvent. Chronic liver damage is characterized by the periodic appearance of symptoms, often against the background of errors in diet.

In acute liver failure, symptoms occur within a few hours. Unpleasant sensations in the mouth are accompanied by severe weakness and disturbances of consciousness, yellowing of the skin. The patient's breath takes on a typical sweetish "liver" chemical odor. The main reasons that provoke liver failure and the appearance of acetone taste in the mouth:

• Viral liver diseases
  : fulminant form of hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, cytomegalovirus infection.
• Toxic damage to the liver parenchyma
  : exposure to carbon tetrachloride, tetraethyl lead, amanitin (when consuming toadstool).
• Complications of pharmacotherapy
  : Reye's syndrome, paracetamol overdose, long-term use of antibiotics and sulfonamides.

Kidney failure

The taste of acetone always appears when kidney function is impaired, since the body cannot eliminate toxic ketone bodies. The symptom is more often detected in the chronic form of the disease, when gradual intoxication of the body occurs with the products of nitrogen metabolism. The unpleasant taste persists constantly. The smell of acetone in the exhaled air can be felt even from a distance. The unpleasant taste causes nausea and loss of appetite.

Sometimes the presence of an acetone taste indicates the development of acute renal failure. Patients feel a strong chemical taste in the mouth, which is combined with repeated vomiting and dryness of the oral mucosa. In addition to atypical taste discomfort, the patient notices a decrease in the amount of urine up to a complete absence of urination during the day.

Mental disorders

People with schizophrenia often complain of a chemical taste in their mouth. The symptom is associated with delusional ideas of poisoning, when a person believes that neighbors or loved ones want him dead. This results in an imaginary acetone taste, usually after ingestion of food or water. In elderly patients, unusual taste sensations that appear without an obvious reason can be caused by senile dementia and progressive disruption of the functioning of all parts of the nervous system.

Rare causes

• Stomach diseases
  : pernicious anemia, chronic hypoacid gastritis, functional dyspepsia.
• Vascular lesions
  : portal vein thrombosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, pylephlebitis.
• Infectious processes
  : sepsis, bacterial meningitis, severe forms of intestinal infections.
• Severe complications of pregnancy
  : acute fatty liver, HELLP syndrome.
• Carrying out fasting
  and
  dietary therapy
  .

Liver diseases

If a person smells of acetone when breathing, this may indicate liver pathology. It is in this organ that the process of breakdown of fatty acids and the formation of ketone bodies occurs. When liver cells are damaged, lipid metabolism is disrupted. This leads to the accumulation of ketones.

Most often, ketoacidosis occurs with hepatitis. Liver inflammation is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• yellowing of the mucous membranes and whites of the eyes;
• skin itching;
• a feeling of heaviness on the right under the ribs;
• fatigue;
• nausea;
• poor appetite.

The patient is prescribed hepatoprotectors, antiviral drugs, as well as a diet limiting spicy, salty and fatty foods.

Renal pathologies

Why does a person's body smell like acetone? This may be due to kidney disease. With nephrosis, metabolism is disrupted. As a result, the excretion of ketones through the kidneys increases. The acetate odor comes from the patient's urine and sweat.

Nephrosis is a disease accompanied by degenerative changes in kidney tissue. The signs of pathology are as follows:

• increased thirst;
• weakness;
• swelling of the face and limbs;
• decreased amount of urine;
• joint pain.

Without treatment, this disease can lead to kidney failure. Usually a person smells of acetone in the early stages of the disease. As the pathology develops, an ammonia smell appears. This indicates a significant deterioration in kidney function.

The patient is prescribed a diet with a high protein content in food and limited salt and water. Corticosteroids and diuretics are indicated.

The smell of acetone from the mouth of men

Any pathological processes in the body are reflected in the chemical composition of urine. In males, urine may have an acetate odor due to the development of infectious diseases:

• cystitis;
• urethritis;
• pyelonephritis;
• prostatitis.

When the prostate gland is infected by bacteria, the urine becomes cloudy and emits a strong chemical odor. Having discovered such changes in the body, a man should consult a doctor - a urologist, andrologist or venereologist.

One of the reasons why an adult man’s mouth may smell like acetone is the development of a malignant tumor. Halitosis occurs when the tumor is localized in the area of ​​the bladder, prostate gland, or kidney.

A change in the composition and smell of urine does not always indicate a pathological process in the body. An acetone odor may emanate from the mouths of adult men and women after eating spices or taking certain synthetic nutrient supplements.

Thyroid dysfunction

The appearance of a ketone odor may be one of the signs of thyrotoxicosis. With this pathology, the thyroid gland produces an excess amount of hormones. This leads to the following symptoms:

• severe weight loss;
• bulging eyes;
• enlargement of the front of the neck (in severe cases, a goiter appears);
• tachycardia;
• nervousness;
• excessive sweating and feeling hot;
• fatigue;
• tremor of the limbs.

Why does a person smell like acetone with thyrotoxicosis? Thyroid hormones stimulate the fat burning process. Their excess leads to accelerated lipid metabolism. As a result, the patient loses a lot of weight, and ketone bodies accumulate in his body. This is what causes the smell.

A patient with thyrotoxicosis needs to take iodine-based medications. After normalization of the thyroid gland, the unpleasant odor disappears.

Infections

If a person smells of acetone on their body, this may be a sign of infectious diseases. Such pathologies are accompanied by severe intoxication of the body. The ketone odor usually appears during the acute stage of the disease, when the patient has a sharply elevated temperature.

Most often, ketoacidosis is observed with rotavirus infection. This disease is commonly called “stomach flu”. It is most often transmitted through dirty hands, less often through airborne droplets. Signs of infection with rotavirus are as follows:

• sore throat (in the first days of illness);
• diarrhea (the color of feces becomes gray);
• fever;
• frequent vomiting;
• severe weakness.

Why does a person’s body smell like acetone during rotavirus infection? During vomiting and diarrhea, the patient loses a large amount of fluid. In addition, fever is accompanied by severe sweating. This leads to dehydration and poor carbohydrate metabolism. Ketone bodies begin to accumulate in the body, which is the cause of the smell.

No special drugs have been developed against rotavirus. Therefore, treatment can only be symptomatic. During illness, you should try to drink as much fluid as possible. This will help avoid dehydration and the accumulation of ketone bodies.

How is excess acetone formed in the body?

If the body is not working properly, there are abnormalities in the periodontal tissues, bleeding gums, you need to contact a periodontist. In such patients, weakness of the ligamentous apparatus of the teeth may occur. Modern periodontology deals with strengthening gum tissue, eliminating bad breath and loose teeth. Treatment of receding gums is carried out, as a result of which the exposure of the necks of the teeth is eliminated.

When fats break down, acetone can form in the remaining substances. It enters the human bloodstream. In such a situation, increased removal from the body begins. It happens that the internal cleaning mechanism does not cope with this job. Then your breath smells like acetone. Both adults and children can suffer from this. Provoking factors are a deficiency of a useful substance, a pathological process. Toxic ketones accumulate in the body, which poison it. Ammonia is excreted not only through the lungs, but also through the kidneys. This means that its content in the urine will be increased, and when you breathe, you will feel an unpleasant odor in the mouth.

Poor nutrition

Sometimes it can be very difficult to determine why a person smells of acetone. After all, the examination does not reveal any pathologies in him. In this case, you need to pay attention to your diet. The cause of an unpleasant odor may be a diet with insufficient amounts of carbohydrate foods.

Quite a few people are into ketogenic diets these days. This diet involves a sharp restriction of carbohydrates and a large amount of fat in the diet.

The keto diet is believed to lead to rapid weight loss. However, such a menu can provoke serious metabolic disorders. With a carbohydrate deficiency, active fat burning occurs. In the process of accelerated lipid metabolism, an excess of ketone bodies is formed, which do not have time to be excreted from the body. These substances negatively affect the tissues of the liver, kidneys and pancreas.

If a person smells of acetone, then he needs to immediately review his menu. Otherwise, it can lead to serious pathologies. An acetate smell signals a severe carbohydrate deficiency. In this case, you need to urgently stop following the ketogenic diet.

It is not uncommon for a person to smell like acetone on their breath during a complete fast. The ketone odor is formed by the same mechanism as in diabetes mellitus. During a long period of fasting, the body begins to use its own fat reserves as an energy source. This releases a large number of ketone bodies. These substances have a toxic effect on organs. Therefore, it is better to avoid starvation diets. Excessively long breaks between meals should also be avoided.

Ketone odor in children

Acetate odor in children can be caused by the same diseases as in adults. Therefore, the child should be shown to a doctor. It is important to remember that diabetes often begins to develop in childhood.

However, in many cases the odor is not associated with pathology. In childhood, ketone bodies oxidize very slowly. This leads to the smell of acetone. This symptom is often observed during puberty, especially during long breaks in food intake. Sometimes the smell appears in a child during times of stress. Doctors suggest that those children whose mothers abused protein foods during pregnancy are prone to ketoacidosis.

In childhood, acetonemic syndrome is also observed. This pathology is characterized by the accumulation of ketones in the body and an acetate odor from the mouth and skin. The causes of the disease have not been precisely established. Acetonemic syndrome occurs in the form of attacks. Suddenly the child experiences severe vomiting, motor and mental restlessness, and headaches. Then this state is replaced by lethargy and drowsiness. Such children are advised to eat a diet high in carbohydrates and limited in fatty foods. To combat dehydration, infusion solutions are administered. Typically, signs of pathology disappear on their own after the child turns 12-13 years old.

During which diseases does it appear?

Various endocrine pathologies lead to the appearance of the smell of acetone in humans, including those associated with pancreatic dysfunction (for example, diabetes mellitus); problems with the digestive system, impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver; infection by bacteria, microbes and viruses and others. It has been established that an increase in the level of acetone in urine and blood, the smell of acetone appears in diseases such as:

• ketoacidosis coma;
• intoxication of the body;
• diabetes;
• acetonomy syndrome;
• diseases of the thyroid gland (for example, hyperthyroidism, a complication of diffuse toxic goiter);
• renal failure, pyelonephritis;
• liver failure;
• liver injury, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, cholecystitis;
• rapid dehydration due to intestinal infections.

Diagnostics

If a person smells of acetone from his mouth or body, this may be a sign of dangerous diseases. It is necessary to undergo diagnostics as soon as possible to identify the cause of ketoacidosis. Which doctor should you visit? First you need to see a therapist. If necessary, the general practitioner will refer the patient to a more specialized specialist.

If ketoacidosis is suspected, the following examinations are prescribed:

• blood test for biochemical parameters;
• urine test for ketone bodies;
• blood test for thyroid hormones;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys and liver.

During the appointment, the doctor also finds out the patient’s dietary habits. After all, ketoacidosis is often triggered by a deficiency of carbohydrates in food.

Nowadays, special glucometers with the determination of ketone bodies are produced for diabetics. This helps to detect signs of ketoacidosis in a timely manner at home.

Smell of a cat

There are situations when a person begins to smell of cat feces. In this case, the body also signals about possible problems. For example, the smell of urea appears when:

• Kidney and liver diseases
• Pathologies of the endocrine system and VSD
• Tuberculosis
• Obesity
• Disturbances in the digestive system

Among the common causes of this “aroma” are kidney problems. After all, if their work malfunctions, the entire body as a whole reacts painfully to this. Moreover, you should understand that the smell of urea in this case will be strong, and it will be impossible to cope with it with improvised means: deodorants do not use this.

The problem develops due to the fact that protein breakdown products are excreted through the sebaceous glands. Doctors in this case talk about uricidosis, which can result from chronic nephritis, pyelonephritis and uremia.

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How to get rid of odor

What to do if a person smells of acetone? You can completely get rid of an unpleasant odor only after eliminating its cause. Therefore, first of all, you need to treat the underlying pathology and avoid too strict diets.

The following recommendations from doctors will also help reduce the odor:

1. You should try to consume enough fluid.
2. Long breaks between meals should be avoided.
3. You should shower regularly and use antibacterial soap.
4. Wearing clothes and underwear made from natural fabrics will help reduce sweating.
5. It is recommended to use deodorants with zinc and aluminum.

The acetone smell is a rather dangerous symptom that should never be ignored. Timely treatment will help avoid intoxication of the body and damage to organs from ketones.