A sudden smell of iodine from the mouth indicates the accumulation of the element in the human body due to a malfunction - this is a bad symptom. The smell is accompanied by unpleasant sensations:
- Diarrhea;
- Burning in the throat;
- Thirst;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea.
In addition to these symptoms, the mucous membranes also change color, become brown, and convulsions and weakness may occur.
The smell of iodine from the mouth and its causes
Iodism, or poisoning of the body with iodine - this is the medical term that characterizes the phenomenon. Two types are described: chronic – develops over several years, has an erased clinical picture; acute - occurs when consuming a large amount of iodine at a time.
Basically, the disease affects people who work in production using huge amounts of iodine-containing substances. It is important to remember that daily iodine intake should not exceed 200 mcg. Poisoning will occur if the substance is consumed in large quantities.
In an adult
In adults, bad breath occurs for the following reasons:
- The passage of large quantities of iodinated substances through the respiratory system through inhalation at work or at home during, for example, experiments.
- If you live near the sea, poisoning can also occur. The concentration of iodine in sea air is high.
- Taking medications containing iodine for a long period.
- A person has an increased sensitivity to iodines, or so-called idiosyncrasy.
- Targeted use of large amounts of iodine after taking a large amount of iodine, this can happen during termination of pregnancy, simulating colds, or increased body temperature.
- The smell of iodine is sometimes caused by an allergic reaction of the body.
- A mixture of the above reasons.
Hyperthyroidism, or thyroid disease, can cause bad breath. In case of liver pathology caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages and foods high in fat, similar manifestations are possible.
The child has
The causes of odor in a child are considered to be:
- Long-term stay by the sea or living in the area.
- Klebsiella bacterium, which causes gastrointestinal dysfunction.
- Taking vitamin complexes or tablets high in iodine.
The child does not yet have a strong immune system; the smallest changes are dangerous for a small person. Difficulties can arise even from changing the diet, adding seaweed, seafood and foods fortified with iodine.
You should immediately contact your pediatrician if your child complains about the taste of iodine in the mouth, or if you smell it in your baby, to determine the exact cause of the odor in the child and begin treatment.
Diagnostic tests
A child's stale breath, which smells like iodine, can lead to a lot of questions from parents. Concerns about the reasons for the appearance of such signs and uncertainty about the risks to the baby’s health indicate the need to consult a specialist. Most often, worried parents go to the pediatrician. After listening to complaints, the doctor most often redirects the patient to an endocrinologist. The first thing this specialist will do is collect anamnesis from the words of the parents (or child). After receiving the information, the endocrinologist will proceed to an external examination of the patient. Based on its results, the specialist determines the need to conduct certain studies.
If there is a suspicion that the specific odor of iodine from the mouth is caused by one or another pathology, the child may be referred for an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. A set of laboratory tests of blood, urine and stool may be required. A blood test is taken to determine the level of the pituitary hormone, and a urine test is taken to determine the amount of iodine in its composition.
In the last few years, the “aes-isap” method has been used to diagnose iodism.
Manifestations of iodism on nails
It involves testing the patient’s nail plate for iodine content. Its quantity is determined by the length of the light flux that the microelements emit. It can only be detected using special atomic emission spectrometry equipment.
Symptoms
Many people who are poisoned by iodine vapor by inhaling it survive the poisoning easily. Symptoms begin to appear quickly, soon disappear, and the disease recedes. Perhaps they will remind you of themselves for a day or two. Symptoms of poisoning through the respiratory system are:
- Runny nose, cough caused by irritated mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and skin;
- Edema;
- Rupture of the salivary glands;
- Damage to the skin.
With intentional or accidental consumption of large amounts of iodine, the situation is much more complicated. Oral poisoning is accompanied by an irritated throat, pharynx, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal dysfunction:
- Bad breath lasts for a long time and is persistent.
- Poisoning is accompanied by vomiting and nausea.
- The color of the mucous membrane changes to blue.
- Burns of the esophagus, stomach, mouth.
- Possible kidney damage.
What should parents be wary of?
If your breath smells like iodine, this should alert parents. In addition to the unpleasant aroma, other problems arise. What other symptoms indicate an excess of iodine in the body:
- burning sensation in the throat;
- a sore throat;
- intestinal tract disorders;
- the mucous membranes of the oral cavity are dry;
- dizziness;
- attacks of periodic nausea.
It is important to monitor children's health. If these symptoms appear, you should further examine the oral cavity. If the mucous membrane darkens, you should immediately visit a doctor.
Consequences of poisoning and possible complications
Poisoning with iodine-containing substances can end in failure, even death, which occurs due to swelling of the larynx and lungs; a person simply cannot breathe. Possible consequences of poisoning include complications in the respiratory system: pneumonia, bronchitis; complications in the kidneys - nephritis.
In case of illness, with the manifestation of the smell of iodine when breathing, the life-supporting functions of the body are disrupted. Noted:
- Decreased vision;
- Retardation of consciousness;
- Weakening of the immune system;
- Liver problems, pain in the right hypochondrium.
Liver problems in humans
Elimination of the causative factor
The smell of iodine from a child’s mouth can be eliminated only after its underlying cause is determined. If the provoking factor was a long stay near the sea, there is no cause for concern. Soon the iodine smell in children will go away on its own.
If the iodine odor appears as a result of poisoning, gastric lavage and sorbents are prescribed. For pathologies of the thyroid gland, the doctor prescribes specific therapy, depending on the detected disease. Reduce the amount of foods in your diet that cause these symptoms.
Drug treatment of iodine odor from the mouth
Initially, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the smell. In case of poisoning by a substance through the respiratory system or orally, immediate first aid is required. The first step is to rinse the stomach so that the maximum amount of iodine leaves the body. When carrying out the procedure in a medical facility, doctors use the following drugs:
- Sodium thiosulfate antidote. The drug is recommended for poisoning the body with iodine vapor, arsenic, bromine. It should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. May be taken orally or intravenously. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor. When used, an allergy may occur, so it is necessary to keep the patient under control.
- Medicines prescribed for cardiovascular problems. Cordiamine, camphor. Cordiamine is prescribed to stimulate the respiratory system. It is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Used together with novocaine for pain relief. A side effect of use may be seizures. If the poisoning has caused difficulties with the respiratory system and, as a result, a cough, the doctor will prescribe medications containing caffeine, codeine, and dionine. Medicines are used intravenously. An attack of bradycardia, fever, redness of the skin are side symptoms of the use of antitussive drugs.
- Inhalation with water and ammonia, soda is prescribed for iodine poisoning through the respiratory tract. It is recommended to rinse the throat, mouth and nose with a 2% soda solution.
Be careful - bacteria!
Iodine respiration can cause the presence in the gastrointestinal tract of an excessively large number of bacteria of the genus Klebsiella - a pathogen belonging to enterobacteria that function in the intestines of even a completely healthy person. The intestines of newborn babies are not sufficiently developed to produce protective microorganisms. Therefore, during active reproduction, Klebsiella affects the entire digestive tract. To minimize the risk of bacterial growth, cook fruits and vegetables, boil water, and wash your hands before preparing food for your child.
There are more than 300 species of bacteria in the human oral cavity. A warm and moist environment in the mouth is ideal conditions for the active reproduction of pathogens. In the mouth they feed on incoming food and dead cells. It is bacterial activity that causes the iodine odor and taste.
Excessive proliferation of bacteria can be determined by the appearance of white, yellowish, gray plaque on the teeth and tongue. The problem is aggravated by insufficient adherence to the drinking regime and a runny nose (a person with a stuffy nose breathes with an open mouth, which leads to drying out of the mucous membrane and increased odor).
Treatment with folk remedies
It happens that the patient cannot be taken to the hospital, and a quick response is required. You should rinse your stomach at home. Then stock up on vegetable oil, milk, flour, starch to continue treatment. An adult patient should drink milk and water mixed with oil. Starch and flour are diluted to a paste and eaten. The sooner they enter the stomach, the less serious the consequences will be for the patient. Do not be alarmed if the water used to lavage the patient's stomach turns blue. If you have beets in the house, the juice of the vegetable can be used as an absorbent substance.
Herbal treatment
To relieve the effects of poisoning, take 20 g of elecampane, add 200 milliliters of boiling water, infuse under a closed lid for 20 minutes and take 1 tablespoon 4 times a day.
Take 2 tablespoons of the herb - knotweed, pour it into a thermos, pour half a liter of boiling water. Leave for an hour or two, drink the decoction three times a day, half a glass.
Pour boiling water over chamomile and its inflorescences and leave, cool and take half a glass orally during the day.
Use of homeopathic remedies
The homeopathy market offers a large selection of products that allow you to detoxify the body. They have antioxidant, metabolic, anti-inflammatory effects. One such remedy is ubiquinone compositum. The drug has a wide spectrum of action and is administered subcutaneously. There is no need to be alarmed if a burning sensation begins during administration; this is due to the fact that the drug contains B vitamins. It is dangerous for pregnant women. Also taken orally, 1 ampoule once a week. The volume of the ampoule is 2.2 milliliters.
Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract can be eliminated with the help of a homeopathic substance - chitosan. It is believed that this is the strongest adsorbent substance created by nature. Completely natural, does not cause allergies or other adverse reactions of the body. The drug contains only natural substances: sprouted grains of wheat, oats, corn. Enzymes, vitamins, proteins and phytohormones are detected. The drug should be taken in a course, the duration is 30-45 days. It is recommended to take the tablets in the morning before meals, about an hour, and in the evening a couple of hours after the last meal.
If you follow all the recommendations and contact healthcare workers in time, you will be able to avoid the serious consequences of poisoning and recover from it with enviable speed.
Prevention of bad breath is considered oral hygiene (the cavity should be kept clean) and seeking medical help to receive the necessary treatment.
Preventive measures
If your baby's mouth smells like iodine, this condition can be prevented. Parents must monitor the child’s health: be sure to wash their hands before eating food using hot water, ensure the cleanliness of vegetables and fruits (they must be thoroughly washed), give the baby only purified drinking water, monitor the condition of the food that is intended for the child’s consumption.
If alarming symptoms appear that may indicate pathologies in the body, consult a doctor in a timely manner to find out the condition in which they appear.
Chief author and editor-in-chief: Makarskaya S.E., 29 years of experience.
Last revision: 01/07/2018
