Sweat and body odor go hand in hand in adults since it is produced due to the bacterial breakdown of sweat. Body odor in children is also very common. But body order, in places like armpits, in children, could be a signal of an underlying illness. This armpit odor may happen due to the colonization of certain bacterial strains. Experts from Montessori Rowland Heights CA are here to give a brief overview of body odor in children.

Reasons for body odor in toddlers :

According to pediatricians, bacterial infections are the most common reason for body odor in toddlers. Apart from this, few other factors are also there causing the odor.

• Foods that children eat have a direct connection with body odor. Eating certain foods like nonorganic dairy products, eggs, meat, and some spicy food leads to body odor in toddlers.
• The presence of parasites in the body can also cause this problem.
• If toddlers have hyperhidrosis, they may have hyperactive sweat glands causing more sweat and body odor.
• Some genetic abnormality causes a rare condition called ‘fish odor syndrome’ which may cause fishy smell in children’s breath, urine, and sweat.
• Though rare but heavy metal toxicity can cause body odor in children.
• Some metabolic disorders like Phenylketonuria or Trimethylaminuria can cause strong body odor in kids.
• Lack of proper hygiene, irregular bathing, and dirty armpits are some of the common causes of body order.
• A very distinct body odor in children's main signal and underline medical conditions like kidney or liver-related ailment, diabetes or inflammation of organs.

Tips to prevent body odor in kids :

• Teach your children basic hygiene and help them keep themselves clean. You can also talk to your children about the importance of cleanliness.
• Make sure your kids take a bath every day. If possible, they can take bath twice a day and use good body soap to clean their armpits, limbs, and genitals well.
• Children should wear clean clothes and shoes. In summer, they can wear light cotton clothes.
• Encourage your children to drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
• Drinking organic, Soya or almond milk instead of cow’s milk is helpful to prevent body odor in children.
• Avoid foods that can cause body odor and increase the intake of fresh, green leafy vegetables and herbs.

Though following the above-mentioned tips will help to prevent normal body odor, according to Montessori Rowland Heights CA , children may need medical help in the following cases :

• In the case of hyperhidrosis, topical antibacterial creams may be prescribed to reduce the pungent smell.
• In case of excessive sweating in armpits and the limbs, the doctor may prescribe medicines containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
• In the case of Trimethylaminuria, you need to consult a dietitian. A proper diet is very important to cure this condition.

Body odor is a normal phenomenon for adults so it will surface as children grow up. However, maintaining personal hygiene and following the above-mentioned tips will be helpful to prevent body odor.