{{Short description|Child's abnormal refusal to eat certain foods}} A '''feeding disorder''' in infancy or early childhood is a child's refusal to eat certain food groups, textures, solids, or liquids for a period of at least one month, which results in inadequate weight gain, impaired growth, or developmental delays. <ref name="minddisorder.com"/> Feeding disorders resemble failure to thrive, except that, at times, there is no medical or physiological condition that can explain the very small amount of food the child consumes or the child’s lack of growth. Sometimes, a previous medical condition that has been resolved is causing the issue.<ref name="minddisorder.com">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood|url=http://www.minddisorders.com/Del-Fi/Feeding-disorder-of-infancy-or-early-childhood.html|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders|publisher=Advameg, Inc.|access-date=26 February 2011}}</ref>
==Types== Feeding disorder is divided into six further sub-types:<ref name=Sexon>{{cite book|last=Sexson|first=Sandra B.|title=Child and adolescent psychiatry|year=2005|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|isbn=1-4051-1768-0|pages=[https://archive.org/details/childadolescentp00sexs/page/399 399]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/childadolescentp00sexs/page/399}}</ref>
# Feeding disorder of state regulation # Feeding disorder of reciprocity (neglect) # Infantile anorexia # Sensory food aversion # Feeding disorder associated with concurrent medical condition # Post-traumatic feeding disorder
==Symptoms and signs == Children attempting to swallow different food textures often vomit, gag, or choke while eating. At feeding times they may react negatively to attempts to feed them, and refuse to eat.<ref name=KKlod>{{cite web|title=Feeding Disorders|url=http://www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_diag.jsp?pid=1084|publisher=Kennedy Krieger Institute|access-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726223117/http://www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_diag.jsp?pid=1084|archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> Other symptoms include head turns, crying, difficulty in chewing or vomiting, and spitting whilst eating. Many children may have feeding difficulties and may be picky eaters, but most of them still have a fairly healthy diet. Children with a feeding disorder, however, will completely abandon some of the food groups, textures, or liquids that are necessary for human growth and development <ref name=Feeding>{{cite web|title=Feeding Disorders|url=https://pediatricfeeding.com/feeding-disorders/|publisher=Feeding Clinic of Santa Monica|access-date=8 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919211324/https://pediatricfeeding.com/feeding-disorders/|archive-date=19 September 2018}}</ref>
Children with this disorder can develop more slowly due to their lack of nutritional intake. In severe cases the child can seem to feel socially isolated because of their lack of social activities involving foods.<ref name=KKlod/>
===Associated problems=== A few of the medical and psychological conditions that have been known to be associated with this disorder include:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/diagnoses-disorders/feeding-disorders | title=Feeding Disorders | publisher=Kennedy Krieger Institute | date=2012 | access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> *Gastrointestinal motility disorders *Oral-motor dysfunction *Failure to thrive *Prematurity *Food allergies *Sensory problems *Reflux *Feeding tube placement
A child that is suffering from malnutrition can have permanently stunted mental and physical development. Getting treatment early is essential and can prevent many of the complications.<ref>{{cite web|title=Feeding Disorders |url=http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001540trt.htm |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527152536/http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001540trt.htm |archive-date=27 May 2010 }}</ref> They can also develop further eating disorders later in life such as anorexia nervosa, or they could become a limited eater—though they could still be a healthy child they may become a picky eater.
==Diagnosis== A barium swallow test is often performed, where the child is given a liquid or food with barium in it. This allows the consulting medical practitioners to trace the swallow-function on an X-ray or other investigative system such as a CAT scan. An endoscopic assignment test can also be performed, where an endoscope is used to view the oesophagus and throat on a screen. It can also allow viewing of how the patient will react during feeding.<ref>{{cite web|title=Feeding Disorders and swallowing disorders|url= https://www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/feedswallowchildren.htm|access-date=18 July 2011}}</ref>
==Treatments== There is no quick cure, and treatment will be based on what problems may be causing the feeding disorder. Depending on the condition, the following steps can be taken: increasing the number of foods that are accepted, increasing the amount of calories and the amount of fluids; checks for vitamin or mineral deficiencies; finding out what the illnesses or psychosocial problems are. To accomplish these goals patients may have to be hospitalized for extensive periods of time. Treatment involves professionals from multiple fields of study including, but not limited to; behavior analysts (Behavioral interventions),<ref>{{Cite journal|pmc=1284399|year=2002|last1=Patel|first1=M. R.|title=An evaluation of two differential reinforcement procedures with escape extinction to treat food refusal|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=35|issue=4|pages=363–374|last2=Piazza|first2=C. C.|last3=Martinez|first3=C. J.|last4=Volkert|first4=V. M.|last5=Christine|first5=M. S.|doi=10.1901/jaba.2002.35-363|pmid=12555908}}</ref> occupational and speech therapist who specialize in feeding disorders, dietitians, psychologists and physicians. To obtain the best results, treatment should include a behavior modification plan under the guidance of multiple professionals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://harrisonspeechpathology.com.au/5-things-about-feeding-therapy/|title=5 Things to Know About Feeding Therapy|date=2019-07-04|website=Harrison Speech Pathology|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> If the child has oral motor difficulties related to the feeding disorder a pediatric occupational or speech therapist who is trained in feeding disorders and oral motor function should help develop a plan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Feeding Disorder of Early Childhood|url=http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=14504&cn=37|access-date=26 June 2011 |author=Andrea Barkoukis |author2=Natalie Staats Reiss |author3=Mark Dombeck }}</ref>
==Epidemiology== Some 25% to 40% of young children are reported to have feeding problems—mainly colic, vomiting, slow feeding, and refusal to eat.<ref name="cfp journal">{{cite journal|last=Bernard-Bonnin|first=AC|title=Feeding problems of infants and toddlers|journal=Canadian Family Physician|year=2006|volume= 52|issue= 10|pages=1247–1251|pmid=17279184|pmc=1783606|url=https://www.cfp.ca/cgi/reprint/52/10/1247}}</ref> It has been reported that up to 80% of infants with developmental handicaps also demonstrate feeding problems while 1 to 2% of infants aged less than one year show severe food refusal and poor growth.<ref name="essentials">{{cite book|last=Kay|first=Jerald|title=Essentials of Psychiatry|year=2006|publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd|location=West Sussex|isbn=0-470-01854-2|page=1078}}</ref> Among infants born prematurely, 40% to 70% experience some form of feeding problem.<ref name="minddisorder.com"/>
==See also== *Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder *Eating disorder
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Malnutrition Category:Eating disorders Category:Infant feeding