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4 Year Old Child On Good Diet And Little Junk Food. Having Smelly Farts. What Is Causing This?

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Posted on Tue, 14 Aug 2012
Question: hello, i have a 4 yr old daughter and its a bit of an embarssing problem but one that needs to be sorted! she regularly has very smelly farts, not the normal ones that kids have (i have 6 kids so i know this is different!) but she smells so bad when she does fart its like the smell from a grown man! can be embarassing for her and me too! she eats a good varied diet and has very little junk food in her diet. i'm just wondering is it a certain food thats causing it? or what else can i do?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Harish Naik (4 hours later)
Hi,
Welcome to XXXXXXX
Children, those who spend time in school or day care may be exposed to infections that cause foul-smelling gas. Children who have diseases that cause malabsorption of nutrients from the intestine are very likely to have foul-smelling flatulence.
Inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis cause poor absorption of nutrients through the intestine. Stools become more bulky as well as greasy and foul smelling. Foul-smelling flatulence will also occur.
Other malabsorption diseases such as celiac diseases have similar symptoms.
Other common causes of foul-smelling gas and stools in children include giardia, a protozoan infection often present in unclean water that's passed through the fecal-oral route, and rotavirus, a virus that produces copious amounts of foul-smelling diarrhea.
Children who have a bacterial infection in the intestine may produce foul-smelling gas, because bacteria in the intestine release sulfur-containing gases that can cause foul-smelling flatulence.
Eating foods that produce excess gas, like beans and cabbage, also causes foul-smelling gas.
Treatment depends on the cause. If certain foods cause a problem, dietary changes can reduce foul-smelling gas.
Children with malabsorptive diseases such as cystic fibrosis and celiac disease require specialized treatment and diets to help them absorb more nutrients.
Bacterial and viral infections in the intestine may require antibiotics or other medications to destroy the harmful intruder. Children with allergies may require dietary changes
Even though it is embarrassing, i advice you see child specialist for examination and to find the exact cause, you can also go for stool routine test can get some information about the symptom.
Hope I have provided the information you needed.
Wish you good health. Take care.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Harish Naik

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2635 Questions

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4 Year Old Child On Good Diet And Little Junk Food. Having Smelly Farts. What Is Causing This?

Hi,
Welcome to XXXXXXX
Children, those who spend time in school or day care may be exposed to infections that cause foul-smelling gas. Children who have diseases that cause malabsorption of nutrients from the intestine are very likely to have foul-smelling flatulence.
Inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis cause poor absorption of nutrients through the intestine. Stools become more bulky as well as greasy and foul smelling. Foul-smelling flatulence will also occur.
Other malabsorption diseases such as celiac diseases have similar symptoms.
Other common causes of foul-smelling gas and stools in children include giardia, a protozoan infection often present in unclean water that's passed through the fecal-oral route, and rotavirus, a virus that produces copious amounts of foul-smelling diarrhea.
Children who have a bacterial infection in the intestine may produce foul-smelling gas, because bacteria in the intestine release sulfur-containing gases that can cause foul-smelling flatulence.
Eating foods that produce excess gas, like beans and cabbage, also causes foul-smelling gas.
Treatment depends on the cause. If certain foods cause a problem, dietary changes can reduce foul-smelling gas.
Children with malabsorptive diseases such as cystic fibrosis and celiac disease require specialized treatment and diets to help them absorb more nutrients.
Bacterial and viral infections in the intestine may require antibiotics or other medications to destroy the harmful intruder. Children with allergies may require dietary changes
Even though it is embarrassing, i advice you see child specialist for examination and to find the exact cause, you can also go for stool routine test can get some information about the symptom.
Hope I have provided the information you needed.
Wish you good health. Take care.