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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Child Has No Appetite After Rotavirus Infection. Has Ketosis. What To Do?

Hi
My 14 month old baby had Rotavirus in March, and has not eaten properly since. He will not touch normal food, or even 'lumpy' baby food. He will occasionally eat 7 month old 'textured' food, rice pudding (smooth), and yoghurt. He's gone off his milk totally.
The only reason he's been putting a little weight on is because I've been adding double cream to his milk and foods - I was told by all the GP's and Health Visitors this was the right thing to do, but the GP I saw today said it was bad!
Without me adding the double cream, he'd only have been having around 300 cals per day, so would have been losing weight, but the GP I saw today just would not listen to me!
He's had a strange smelling breath for weeks now, and I took him to the Doctors today. He has ketones in his urine.
So, what I suspected seems to be true - he's in ketosis! Of course I am now worried sick as I know that in a state of ketosis, the body uses fat stores, but also muscle, to survive.
given his heart is a muscle, I am so worried - the GP I saw today did NOTHING to make me feel any better - just said to have him weighed and take it from there - that's all I ever hear from them even though my baby hasn't eaten properly for nearly 4 months!
He's eating much less now than when he was 6 months old!
I am at my wits end - I do not know what to do. I no longer trust my GP, and as my baby seems to be in a state of ketosis, which I know curbs the appetite, not to mention the fact it can be dangerous as it eats away at muscle, I just don't know what to do!
Please help me, this is now making me ill!
Sat, 29 Jun 2013
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Pediatrician 's  Response
Hi,

Thank you for your query.

I can understand your dilemma. I suggest that you consult a paediatrician rather than a GP. The best course would be to get your son admitted so that he can be investigated and put on the right course of management.

Rotavirus infection should not take such a course. A detailed history, examination and investigation would give us a proper lead for further management. Ketosis needs to be handled first and it can best be done in a hospital.

I hope I have answered your query to your satisfaction.

Wishing your son an early recovery.

Regards,

Rajiv K Khandelwal
http://goo.gl/SuCjl
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Child Has No Appetite After Rotavirus Infection. Has Ketosis. What To Do?

Hi, Thank you for your query. I can understand your dilemma. I suggest that you consult a paediatrician rather than a GP. The best course would be to get your son admitted so that he can be investigated and put on the right course of management. Rotavirus infection should not take such a course. A detailed history, examination and investigation would give us a proper lead for further management. Ketosis needs to be handled first and it can best be done in a hospital. I hope I have answered your query to your satisfaction. Wishing your son an early recovery. Regards, Rajiv K Khandelwal http://goo.gl/SuCjl