Child unot willing to eat food - Online Doctor Chats
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Practicing since : 2005
Answered : 2585 Questions
User : Hi...
Doctor : Hi
Doctor : I am Dr.xxxx here
User : I need to speak to a paediatrician about my 4 year old son
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : I am a General Practitioner, I believe I can help you within my expertise and If required I shall recommend a specialist.
User : ok. My son has stopped eating completely. he does not like any food. He does not feel hungry. Nothing - bribing, cajoling, yelling, beating - works
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Since when is this problem?
User : He used to eat normally till a couple of months back
Doctor : Ok
User : He started becoming fussy and now has stopped eating completely - even his favorite foods
Doctor : Ok
User : His weight has dropped, he has become bony and sickly
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : I was about to ask tha
Doctor : 'that
User : We thought initially it was a phase and that he would outgrow it, but now it is a crisis
Doctor Ok
User : He was born at 4 kilos
Doctor : If he is dropping weight, then it is a concern
User : and at 4 years old is only 13.5 kilos
Doctor : Have you consulted the Pediatrician?
User : He is at 5th percentile of weight now, was born at 90th percentile
Doctor : Yes, I understand his weight gain is less
User : His regular paediatrician is not taking it seriously - says let him eat what he wants, he will eat when he's hungry - the usual brush-offs
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : How about the weight change?
User : He was 14.5 kilos 3 months back
Doctor : ok
Doctor : that is 1 kilo
Doctor : less
User : In the last few days the weight has dropped a lot and he has become very bony and weak
Doctor : and is of concern
Doctor : How are his bowel movements?
User : Constipated, very smelly
Doctor : Ok
User : Once in 2-3 days only
Doctor : Has he been investigated with an abdominal ultrasound?
User : He has a constipation problem that he has inherited from his mother's side (her parents and grandparents also have it)
User : No
Doctor : Ok
User : Not been advised on that
Doctor : How are his dietary habits?
Doctor : Does he take in semiliquid or liquid feeds?
Doctor : sorry semisolid I mean
Doctor : because if he takes in hard foods
Doctor : then it is a problem for bowel movements
User : Prior to this problem, he was eating chappatis with butter/jam + rice/dal/fish + noodles every day
User : Good amount of solids and liquids
Doctor : Ok
User : pediasure or bournvita, juices etc
Doctor : Give him more of a liquid and semisolid diet
User : ok
User : He is refusing to take anything
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Is he not liking any foods?
User : Accepts any kind of punishment, will give up anything, but will not eat
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : I would suggest you to take him to a Pediatric Surgeon
User : Says he does not want to eat / does not like to eat anything
Doctor : for further evaluation
User : ok
Doctor : His abdomen will have to be evaluated
Doctor : with an examination
Doctor : and also ultrasound investigation
User : Also he has been complaining of stomach pain
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : That does mean
Doctor : more in that line
User : What kind of abdominal and ultrasound investigation?
Doctor : like any problem with the stomach intestines
Doctor : abdominal ulrasound would be done
Doctor : to detect any problems
User : ok
Doctor : after a abdominal examination by the Pediatric surgeion
User : First I should take the consultation, or directly get the ultrasound and then meet a specialist?
Doctor : First a consultation is required
Doctor : then he shall order for necessary investigations
User : ok
User : Is a paediatrician different from a paediatric surgeon?
Doctor : Yes, it is different
Doctor : Pediatric surgeon is the right specialist
Doctor : for further guidance
Doctor : in your son's case
User : ok, that is helpful to know
Doctor : Is there any thing else I can help you with?
User : Any advice on helping him eat in the meantime is welcome, otherwise, thank you very much, doctor
Doctor : Without knowing the condition, just feeding him forcefully wont work
User : yes
Doctor : give the foods which he likes and most of them
Doctor : should be liquid or semisolid
User : ok
Doctor : That does serve the purpose for now
User : yes, thanks
Doctor : Thanks for consulting me. Bye for now. Please refer your friends to our service.
User : Thank you Dr.
User : Will do
Doctor : Hi
Doctor : I am Dr.xxxx here
User : I need to speak to a paediatrician about my 4 year old son
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : I am a General Practitioner, I believe I can help you within my expertise and If required I shall recommend a specialist.
User : ok. My son has stopped eating completely. he does not like any food. He does not feel hungry. Nothing - bribing, cajoling, yelling, beating - works
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Since when is this problem?
User : He used to eat normally till a couple of months back
Doctor : Ok
User : He started becoming fussy and now has stopped eating completely - even his favorite foods
Doctor : Ok
User : His weight has dropped, he has become bony and sickly
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : I was about to ask tha
Doctor : 'that
User : We thought initially it was a phase and that he would outgrow it, but now it is a crisis
Doctor Ok
User : He was born at 4 kilos
Doctor : If he is dropping weight, then it is a concern
User : and at 4 years old is only 13.5 kilos
Doctor : Have you consulted the Pediatrician?
User : He is at 5th percentile of weight now, was born at 90th percentile
Doctor : Yes, I understand his weight gain is less
User : His regular paediatrician is not taking it seriously - says let him eat what he wants, he will eat when he's hungry - the usual brush-offs
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : How about the weight change?
User : He was 14.5 kilos 3 months back
Doctor : ok
Doctor : that is 1 kilo
Doctor : less
User : In the last few days the weight has dropped a lot and he has become very bony and weak
Doctor : and is of concern
Doctor : How are his bowel movements?
User : Constipated, very smelly
Doctor : Ok
User : Once in 2-3 days only
Doctor : Has he been investigated with an abdominal ultrasound?
User : He has a constipation problem that he has inherited from his mother's side (her parents and grandparents also have it)
User : No
Doctor : Ok
User : Not been advised on that
Doctor : How are his dietary habits?
Doctor : Does he take in semiliquid or liquid feeds?
Doctor : sorry semisolid I mean
Doctor : because if he takes in hard foods
Doctor : then it is a problem for bowel movements
User : Prior to this problem, he was eating chappatis with butter/jam + rice/dal/fish + noodles every day
User : Good amount of solids and liquids
Doctor : Ok
User : pediasure or bournvita, juices etc
Doctor : Give him more of a liquid and semisolid diet
User : ok
User : He is refusing to take anything
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Is he not liking any foods?
User : Accepts any kind of punishment, will give up anything, but will not eat
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : I would suggest you to take him to a Pediatric Surgeon
User : Says he does not want to eat / does not like to eat anything
Doctor : for further evaluation
User : ok
Doctor : His abdomen will have to be evaluated
Doctor : with an examination
Doctor : and also ultrasound investigation
User : Also he has been complaining of stomach pain
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : That does mean
Doctor : more in that line
User : What kind of abdominal and ultrasound investigation?
Doctor : like any problem with the stomach intestines
Doctor : abdominal ulrasound would be done
Doctor : to detect any problems
User : ok
Doctor : after a abdominal examination by the Pediatric surgeion
User : First I should take the consultation, or directly get the ultrasound and then meet a specialist?
Doctor : First a consultation is required
Doctor : then he shall order for necessary investigations
User : ok
User : Is a paediatrician different from a paediatric surgeon?
Doctor : Yes, it is different
Doctor : Pediatric surgeon is the right specialist
Doctor : for further guidance
Doctor : in your son's case
User : ok, that is helpful to know
Doctor : Is there any thing else I can help you with?
User : Any advice on helping him eat in the meantime is welcome, otherwise, thank you very much, doctor
Doctor : Without knowing the condition, just feeding him forcefully wont work
User : yes
Doctor : give the foods which he likes and most of them
Doctor : should be liquid or semisolid
User : ok
Doctor : That does serve the purpose for now
User : yes, thanks
Doctor : Thanks for consulting me. Bye for now. Please refer your friends to our service.
User : Thank you Dr.
User : Will do
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