Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood

Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood

Article
Behavioral & Mental Health
Kids' Zone
+1
Contributed byKrish Tangella MD, MBAMay 26, 2018

What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

  • Failure to Thrive
  • Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood
  • Feeding Problems in Infancy and Early Childhood

What is Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood? (Definition/Background Information)

  • Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood is a condition in which a child under the age of 6 years fails to eat enough food to gain weight and grow normally, for a period of one month or more. It is characterized by inadequate growth, loss of weight, and difficulty in maintaining normal weight
  • Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood is common in infants and children who are born prematurely, who had had a low birth weight, or who are developmentally delayed
  • A diagnosis of the condition is made when the child fails to eat adequately over a period of more than one month and there is no medical cause for the condition/problem
  • The treatment of Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood may involve the combined efforts of the parents, nurse, pediatrician, and dietitian, who ensure that the child is receiving sufficient calories according to his/her age.
  • There are no known preventive measures available for Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood. However, parents should make regular visits to the pediatrician with their children, which can help in early detection and identification of any feeding, eating, and growth problems, thus avoiding permanent damage due to severe malnutrition

Who gets Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood? (Age and Sex Distribution)

  • Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood occurs in children less than 6 years old
  • This condition is observed in infants and children born preterm, who are with low birth weight, or having a delayed growth and development
  • There is no gender, racial, or ethnic predilection noticed

What are the Risk Factors for Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood? (Predisposing Factors)

The risk factors associated with Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood include:

  • Babies and young children (toddlers and preschoolers) below age 6 years
  • Premature birth of a child
  • Babies born with low weight at birth
  • Children who have delayed growth and development
  • Children who have been separated from their families, under severe stress for various reasons
  • Children living under conditions of severe poverty
  • Mental illness of parents
  • Child abuse and neglect
  • Lack of proper nurturing and nourishment
  • Parental aggression
  • Apathy: A lack of interest or enthusiasm that makes eating a negative experience for the child

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood? (Etiology)

The causes of Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood involve a combination of developmental, physiological, behavioral, parent-child relational, and environmental factors.

Psychological and behavioral related:

  • Temperamental factors that include:

    • Anxiety
    • Impulsivity
    • Distractibility         
    • Strong-willed personality
    • Choking episodes
    • Force feeding
    • Feeding in an angry or tensed, emotional condition
  • Relational factors such as:

    • Disturbances in the parent-child relationship
    • Inadequate maternal care
    • Disturbed parent-child feeding interactions         
    • Parental emotional unavailability due to depression
    • Parents with eating disorders

Environmental factors may include the following:

  • Problematic feeding practices such as:

    • Lack of regular mealtime schedule
    • Overly frequent feedings
    • Lack of appropriate meal choice       
  • Family dysfunctions such as:

    • Martial conflict
    • Domestic violence
    • Parental abuse        
  • Social risk factors:

    • Unemployment
    • Financial difficulties, extreme poverty
    • Low parental education      
    • Socio-cultural factors such as certain dietary practices

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood?

The signs and symptoms observed in infants and children with feeding disorders may include:

  • Weight loss, poor weight gain
  • Constipation
  • Irritability, excessive crying (it is difficult to console the child)
  • Excessive sleepiness or lethargy
  • Withdrawn or unresponsive
  • Apathy (lack of concern)
  • Problems in swallowing and chewing, the child is unable to feed on its own
  • Choking, gagging, and vomiting
  • Picky eating - eating foods only of a certain type, color, or texture

How is Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood Diagnosed?

Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood may be diagnosed as follows:

  • The child is evaluated based on the standard growth curves for height, weight, and head circumference
  • Laboratory and imaging studies may also be undertaken to exclude other causes

The diagnosis for this condition should satisfy the following 4 criteria:

  • Failure to eat adequately over a period of one month or more
  • Weight loss or failure to gain weight is observed
  • Inadequate eating and weight loss occurs before the age of 6 years
  • The inadequate eating and lack of growth is not attributed to medical and physiological conditions such as:

    • Gastrointestinal problems
    • Nervous system abnormalities
    • Anatomical deformations        
    • Also, the feeding disorder is not due to a lack of food, or the presence of mental disorders such as rumination disorder

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood?

Complications associated with Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood includes:

  • Delayed physical and mental development of the child, failure to thrive
  • Poor performance in school
  • Behavioral problems

How is Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood Treated?

The treatment measures for Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood include:

  • Ensuring that babies and infants are adequately breastfed
  • Increasing the number of calories by using high-calorie formula or special foods
  • Ensuring that the child is getting all essential nutrients; any vitamin or mineral deficiency should be rectified and supplemented
  • Any underlying psychological and emotional issues should be identified and appropriately managed or controlled
  • In cases of severe symptoms, the child may be required to be admitted to the hospital
  • In a hospital setting, the feeding may be undertaken either through the vein (intravenously) or through a nasogastric tube (a tube passing through nose and into the stomach), until the child resumes normal feeding

How can Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood be Prevented?

  • There are no known preventative measures for Feeding Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood
  • Regular visits to the healthcare provider is recommended: A pediatrician can help in early detection and identification of the condition and prevent complications and permanent damage due to malnutrition in the child

What is the Prognosis of Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

  • There is no rapid cure for Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood
  • The combined and sustained efforts of pediatricians, outreach nurses, dietitians, social workers, behavior specialists, and parents, can help the infant or child improve their health condition and nutritional status and recover at a faster rate

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood:

The following article link will help you understand other cancers and benign tumors:

https://www.dovemed.com/healthy-living/kids-zone/

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Krish Tangella MD, MBA

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