This disorder
is characterized by the failure to eat adequately as reflected by
weight loss or a failure to gain weight. Feeding disorders are diagnosed
when the infant or young child does not eat adequately and the problem
is not caused by a medical condition such as cleft palate, congenital
heart disease, or chronic lung disease, or a mental condition such
as any disorder that causes mental retardation. Symptoms may also
include:
Poor weight gain or an actual weight loss.
Constipation.
Excessive
crying.
Irritability.
Apathy.
Associated
Features:
Developmental
Disabilities.
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders have similar symptoms. The clinician, therefore, in
his diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the following
disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Rumination Disorder
Mental Retardation
Cleft Palate
Congenital Heart Disease
Underlying medical condition (disorders of the child's digestive
and neurological systems; for any abnormalities of the ear, nose,
or throat; for problems with respiratory control; for oromotor difficulties,
which relate to the movement of the mouth and tongue; and for any
swallowing disorders)
Cause:
The cause of such
disorders is unknown, but often results from a variety of factors
such as poverty, dysfunctional child-caregiver interactions, and parental
misinformation. Feeding problems often occur in infant and children
who are tube fed for extended periods of time due to some other illness
or disability. In premature infants, the underdeveloped sphincter
muscle, between the stomach and esophagus, can cause the infant to
spit up frequently during feedings. Disorders of the digestive system
can also cause feeding problems, and include abnormalities of the
throat and esophagus that cause pain during swallowing, inhaling food
into the lungs, constipation. Feeding disorders can be caused by food
allergies, by difficulty with the movement of the mouth or tongue,
or may be a cry for attention by a neglected child or a child with
a behavioral disorder.
Treatment:
Treatment for
feeding disorders can involve a team including gastroenterologists,
nutritionists, behavioral psychologists, occupational and speech therapists.
Social workers may also supply assistance to provide families with
support and resources for children with these types of disorders.
Depending on the severity of the condition,
the following measures may be taken:
Increase the
number of calories and amount of fluid the infant takes in.
Correct any vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
A short period of hospitalization may be required to accomplish
these goals.
Childhood
malnutrition can permanently stunt mental and physical development
if it is severe and long-lasting. Early treatment can prevent such
complications.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Identify and correct
any underlying physical illnesses or psychosocial problems. Cognitive
behavioral therapy appears to be the therapy most encountered in the
treatment of a feeding disorder.
