Acetonemic syndrome is a metabolic disorder in which carbohydrate and fat metabolism is disturbed, as a result of which the level of acetone (ketone bodies) in the child’s blood increases.
This leads to intoxication of the body.
As Nataliya Yachminska, a gastroenterologist and nutritionist at the Lviv Regional Clinical Children’s Hospital “OKHMATDYT”, tells us, when the content of ketone bodies increases, it can cause a threat in the form of hypoglycemia (a sharp drop in blood glucose level) or acidosis (a dangerous condition in which acid-alkaline balance in the body).
Acetonemic syndrome can develop for various reasons:
viral infections;
eating unusual food;
stress or psycho-emotional stress;
starvation;
overeating
The following symptoms may indicate its possible occurrence:
nausea and vomiting;
diarrhea or constipation;
pale skin color
weakness;
temperature increase;
characteristic smell of acetone from the mouth;
dizziness.
If similar symptoms are detected, you should immediately seek help from a doctor, because during acetonemic syndrome, the child loses a large amount of water and needs urgent help. Therefore, in order to avoid dehydration, it is necessary to immediately use a means for rehydration.