Patient's question:
My son is one year old and hasn't eaten for two days (and hasn't had a bowel movement). He drinks some milk while sleeping, which might be due to indigestion (he ate three meals of rice in a row two days ago). Yesterday, I gave him a few pills of Qizhen Dan and used glycerin suppositories, which helped him pass some stool, but it seems his stomach is still uncomfortable. This morning, he still refuses to eat. Could you please advise any other methods for the doctor? Please help answer this. Thank you.Doctor's answer:
Hello: First, it is important to identify why the child has a poor appetite. If the poor appetite is caused by gastrointestinal or systemic diseases or drug reactions, it is necessary to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Traditional Chinese medicine can also be used to treat the symptoms of poor appetite. For example, if the child has poor digestion or food stagnation, they can take condensed Baohe Pills. If the child has a weak spleen and stomach, reduced appetite, and stomach fullness, they can take Xiangsha Liqun Pills. If the poor appetite is due to irregular eating habits that have damaged the spleen and stomach, and the child experiences reduced appetite, fullness, or stomach pain, they can take Xiangsha Yangwei Pills. For food stagnation and post-meal fullness or diarrhea, Jianpi Pills can be taken.In addition to medication, to make the child enjoy eating, it is also important to pay attention to methods. Some children with poor appetite make parents very anxious. To coax the child to eat, some parents use toys to distract them during meals, while others let them eat while playing. Excessive indulgence by parents and a lack of understanding of proper feeding methods are also direct causes of poor appetite in children.
So what should be done? Below are some suggestions:
1. Create a relatively quiet eating environment for the child so that they can eat in a relaxed and pleasant manner. The digestive system is affected by emotions; stress can lead to reduced appetite. Therefore, when the child is eating, adults should avoid loud laughter and should not distract them by asking them to do this or that.
2. When preparing food for the child, consider not only various nutrients but also diversity and ease of digestion. Strive to offer a variety of foods that are delicious, fragrant, and appealing in appearance, so that the child develops a desire to eat when they see or smell them. Additionally, the dishes served to the child should be cut finely, and the rice should not be cooked too dry to make chewing easier.