| disease | Infantile Anorexia |
| alias | Anorexia |
Digestive function disorders are very common in children, with main symptoms including vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distension and fullness, abdominal pain, and hematochezia. These symptoms not only reflect functional or organic diseases of the digestive tract but also frequently occur in diseases of other systems, particularly central nervous system disorders, mental disorders, and various infectious diseases. Therefore, it is essential to obtain a detailed medical history, closely monitor changes in the condition, and accurately diagnose and treat the underlying disease.
bubble_chart Etiology
①Gastrointestinal diseases: such as peptic ulcer, acute and chronic hepatitis, chronic enteritis, diarrhea of various causes, and chronic constipation are common reasons. ②Gastrointestinal allergies and the use of medications that can easily cause nausea and vomiting, such as erythromycin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, and aminophylline, can also lead to anorexia. ③Systemic diseases such as subcutaneous nodule disease, collagen diseases, anemia, and some chronic infections. ④Zinc deficiency and certain endocrine deficiencies, such as hypothyroidism. ⑤Others such as liver insufficiency, hypertension, acidosis, uremia, and gastrointestinal congestion due to cardiac insufficiency. ⑥In recent years, there has been an increasing number of cases of vitamin A and/or vitamin D toxicity.
Apart from the above diseases, it should be noted that emotional changes in children can cause anorexia. Particularly, inappropriate attitudes of parents who spoil their children regarding mealtime can lead to nervous anorexia (refer to the section on mental illnesses). Poor eating habits are often the main cause of anorexia. Diets high in protein and sugar can reduce appetite; snacking on candies, pastries, peanuts, melon seeds, etc., between meals, as well as irregular meal times and an unstructured lifestyle, all affect appetite. Excessive heat and humidity in summer, along with excessive consumption of cold drinks, can impair the secretion of digestive juices and reduce appetite.
Anorexia is a common complaint encountered in pediatrics. It is essential to determine whether it is indeed anorexia. Some parents may excessively demand their children to eat, and sometimes significant variations in a child's appetite or picky eating habits can be mistaken for anorexia. A thorough understanding should be obtained through medical history, physical examination, and necessary laboratory tests to rule out digestive system diseases and the impact of systemic diseases on the digestive tract. Detailed inquiries should be made about the child's family and school environment to identify any factors affecting eating habits.
bubble_chart Treatment Measures
The disease cause should be correctly diagnosed and the primary disease treated. Symptomatic treatment should focus on restoring the child's digestive function. Mainly use Chinese medicine therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, and spine pinching therapy. At the same time, attention should be paid to improving dietary content and habits, establishing a good lifestyle, and correcting parents' incorrect attitudes toward their children's diet. If necessary, 10mg of zinc sulfate can be given to infants mixed in syrup, once or twice daily. If blood zinc levels are found to be low, zinc sulfate at 2–3mg/kg·d can be used for a course of 1–3 months. Zinc can rapidly regenerate taste bud cells, improve the sensitivity of taste buds, and enhance digestive function, with an effectiveness rate of over 90% for children with zinc deficiency.
Chinese medicine therapy: In Chinese medicine, anorexia is referred to as anorexia, primarily caused by dysfunction of the spleen and stomach. This may be due to inherent weakness of the spleen and stomach, improper feeding, irregular diet, or damage to the spleen and stomach. Clinically, it is divided into deficiency and excess syndromes: for excess pattern, the treatment focuses on resolving stagnation; for deficiency pattern, the treatment focuses on regulating and tonifying, with adjustments based on clinical symptoms.
Prescription example 1: Patchouli 9g, Neopicrorhiza 3g, Dried Tangerine Peel 6g, Jianqu 9g, charred hawthorn fruit 9g, Poria 9g, Chicken's Gizzard-Skin 9g.
Prescription example 2: Chinese Yam 9g, Chuanmingshen 9g, Chicken's Gizzard-Skin 9g, Coix Seed 9g, Rice-Grain Sprout 9g, Germinated Barley 9g.
Deficiency pattern: Weak constitution or prolonged illness depleting original qi, leading to spleen deficiency and impaired transformation, poor appetite, sallow complexion and emaciation, mental fatigue, lack of strength, or loose stools. The lips and tongue are pale, with little or no tongue coating, and the pulse is thin and weak. Treatment focuses on strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach, commonly using modified Middle-Regulating Decoction.
Prescription example 1: Tangshen 9g, White Atractylodes Rhizome 9g, Poria 9g, Caokou 3g, Dried Ginger 3g, raw Guya, Germinated Barley 9g each.
Prescription example 2: Tangshen 9g, Poria 9g, charred Atractylodes 3g, Liquorice Root 3g, charred hawthorn 6g, Chuanhou 3g, raw Germinated Barley 9g.
Additional modifications: For both syndromes, the following herbs can be added based on symptoms: ① Tidal fever: add Lycium Bark 9g, Blackend Swallowwort Root 9g; ② Diarrhea: add Chinese Yam 9g, Lotus Seed 9g; chronic diarrhea: add red halloysite 9g, Chebula Fruit 6g; ③ Emaciation and poor appetite: continue with Qi Pi Wan; ④ Qi counterflow: add Villous Amomum Fruit 3g, obscured homalomena rhizome 9g; ⑤ Severe deficiency: add Solomonseal Rhizome 9g; ⑥ Abdominal distension and fullness: add radish seed 3g; ⑦ Stubborn anorexia: add Clove 1.5g; ⑧ Infants with food or milk stagnation or constipation: add One-Pinch-Amount Gold, 0.3–0.6g each time, 2–3 times daily; ⑨ Excessive sweating: add raw oyster shell 15g, light wheat 9g.
Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy: Moxibustion can be applied to Zusanli (ST36), Hegu (LI4), Zhongwan (CV12), and Liangmen (ST21).
Spine pinching therapy: Effective for anorexia, especially for deficiency pattern. Refer to the medical treatment section for methods.
First, maintain a reasonable diet and establish good eating habits. Animal-based foods contain more zinc, so they should make up a certain proportion in the diet. Additionally, zinc intake can be increased by adding 1g of zinc sulfate to 100g of salt, ensuring the standard zinc intake (about 10mg per day) is met, which can help improve appetite. If there are chronic illnesses or malnutrition, they should be treated promptly.
