Patient's question:
The male baby is now eleven months old. He lacks meat during dinner and has been taken to see a doctor. The pediatrician recommended drinking some zinc oral liquid. He has been drinking it for a month, but hasn't gone for a follow-up check yet. In the past two days, he has barely eaten, which is very frustrating. What could be the reason for this?Doctor's answer:
Infancy is the most common time when children lack meat, which is often caused by unreasonable supplementary food provided during infancy, such as limited food variety, monotonous preparation methods, and missed opportunities to provide supplementary food during the sensitive period for taste development. Some children may also lack iron or zinc, which can lead to interference with the function of digestive enzymes and a decrease in appetite when lacking iron. When lacking zinc, taste perception is reduced, making plain vegetables tasteless and causing a preference for foods with strong flavors.