MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Poor feeding in infants

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Poor feeding in infants

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Considerations	Common Causes Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

Toddler development

Alternative names Return to top

Feeding - lack of interest; Infant - lack of interest in feeding

Definition Return to top

Poor feeding is when an infant either demonstrates a lack of interest in feeding, or an inability to take in adequate nutrition.

Considerations Return to top

Poor feeding is a nonspecific symptom seen in newborn and young infants that can result from many conditions, including infection, metabolic disorders, genetic disorders, structural abnormalities, and neurological disorders.

Poor feeding is not an indicator of the severity of the disease, but it is an indicator that (even in the absence of other symptoms) suggests close watching of the infant.

Common Causes Return to top

Viral gastroenteritis
Galactosemia
Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn (late)
Meningitis
Tracheoesophageal fistula
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Birth acquired herpes
Botulism (infant botulism)
Congenital hypothyroidism
Hypoplastic left heart
Meningitis H. influenza
Physiologic jaundice of the newborn
Patent ductus arteriosus
Premature infant
Tetralogy of Fallot
Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
Transposition of the great vessels
Truncus arteriosus
Any disorder that causes damage to the nervous system or causes muscle weakness

Home Care Return to top

Watch closely for the development of other signs and symptoms of illness, including signs of dehydration. Also watch the height, weight, and general development closely for signs of malnutrition or failure to thrive.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

Your child does not seem to be eating enough or is consistently losing weight.
Poor feeding is accompanied by other signs or symptoms.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

A child who is feeding poorly will often have other symptoms and signs that, when taken together, define a specific syndrome or condition. Diagnosis of that condition is based on a family history, medical history, and thorough physical evaluation.

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions like the following:

Eating habits
- How does the baby (child) eat normally?
- Has the diet been changed recently?
Time pattern
- Has the baby (child) always been a fussy eater?
- Is the feeding getting harder?
Other symptoms
- Is there vomiting?
- Is there diarrhea?
- Is there an abnormal stool color?
- Is there abdominal pain?
- Is there abdominal cramping?
- Is there a sore throat?
- Is there a stiff neck?
- Is there a headache?
- Is there gagging or choking?
- Is there coughing?
- Are there other symptoms?

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

Laboratory studies such as X-rays, GI studies, and blood tests may be ordered to confirm the presence of a suspected disorder.

AFTER THE OFFICE VISIT

Although the health care provider maintains records on your baby, it is a good idea to maintain your own records of office visit findings, test results, and your own observations of your baby's health. You should add measurements that you do at home (such as height and weight).

Bring your records to the health care provider's attention if you notice any abnormalities, or if you have questions about your baby's development. If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the cause of poor feeding, you note this diagnosis in your record.

Update Date: 4/22/2003

Updated by: Elizabeth Hait, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.