Anorexia (Poor Appetite)

If a pre-schooler is not eating enough , but is otherwise active and full of life, there is probably  nothing wrong with him..But  if the baby suddenly  stops suckling than it is worry some.  If he has thrush  (curd like white patches which do not come out easily) inside the mouth, a simple treatment will cure it. Otherwise the newborn may have a serious infection needing urgent attention.

Causes

In case the parents the parents are worried  that the child weights  less than the average recommended weight, it is important to keep in mind  that the child who is small at birth  (though he was born at the expected time ) is likely to remain small.. Also his size will mimic that of parents. If you are concern that  your child's weight gain and appetite seems  to be less in the second 6 months than in the first 6 months, remember that an average breastfed infant may gain about  20 to 30 gms of weight per day in the first 3 months, above 15 gms between 3 and 6 months and even less in the next 6 months.

The bulk of cases of anorexia  belong to the age group of 1 to 3 years and usually the parents of first children will bring them in  to be examined. An older children or an adolescent who is loosing weight (weighted on the same scale at intervals.) or one gets tired easily and appears unwell and listless may need a through checkup and investigation. He may, for instance, be anemic or may have diseases like jaundice (due to infection of his liver), tuberculosis or a urinary infection.

Treatment

Work with a baby's natural appetite. Just as the baby suckles as much milk as he needs at the breast, a child will usually eat when he is hungry. No intervention is required as long as he is otherwise healthy. 

Remember that toddler likes to play with food. Nearer the first birthday, he will show interest in feeding himself.. If permitted, he will enjoy doing so through he makes a mess and manage to put hardly anything in the mouth. A clever mother allows him to learn to manage by himself. In between she assist him but  make the child feel that  he is doing it himself. She does not mind  the mess. She knows that the child could be persuaded to eat more without his messing around, but she avoids the temptation to take over and allows him to manage with his own fingers or with the help of a spoon. The moment he shows reluctance to eat any more, she avoid  any attempt to make the child finish the remaining food. Such a child is likely to create fewer problems while eating.

Offer a child too much of milk or milk product is not desirable at times the milk may have to be  stopped for a couple of months until the child develop healthy food habits.

Children who don't eat much at mealtime  should be offered food  or feed more often say every 2-3 hours. If a child does not eat enough  of one item, but appears hungry  he should be offered something else  say fruit or your feed. An older child may also be involved in the preparation of the meals.

Drugs to increase the appetite of a child is not recommended.