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What Causes Excessive Hunger But Low Body Weight In A Child?

Posted on Mon, 28 Jul 2014

Question: hi, i have a 6 year old daughter who seems to always eat or claims to be hungry. she has done this since she was 3 when i stopped breastfeeding her, she is very small and skinny despite her eatting habits and is regularly wormed she only weighs 13kg and is only 94cm tall, she will eat 2 weet bix for breakfast then 5 minutes after shes asking for food and if given the food she will ask for more then shes given on average she will eat 3 big meals a day and anywhere between 12 to 24 snacks (3-4 cookies or an apple) a day. she has a intolerance to salicylates and was born 3 weeks early and has hyeractivity and a innocent heart murmer. should i be worried and take her to a gp as shes not gained much weight in over a year shes put on a kilogram or 2

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
She needs evaluation for underweight and height

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.
I understand your concern. She is definitely under weight and under height. Her weight and height centiles are falling less than 5th centile which is a definitely indication that she needs to be evaluated. You did not mention her birth weight, but even if she was low birth weight baby, she should have caught up by now.

I suggest you take her to a paediatrician.

I have a few questions and will suggest few possibilities.
Questions:
1. What was the birth weight?
2. How is the attaining of developmental milestones?
3. Is the stool oily and floats in the pan?
4. Is there any colour change in the hair or skin?
5. Is there any history of recurrent serious infections?
6. Is she intolerant to heat and hot water bath?
7. Has her thyroid status been checked in the recent past?

Possibilities:
1. Hyperthyroidism/ Hypercatabolic state
2. Immunodeficiency either primary or acquired.

Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (24 hours later)

She was born 6pound 9ounces and 46cm long. Her stool is light XXXXXXX oily and floats she has dark pigment on her arms and neck not from sun her hair is falling out a bit and she's very smart and met all her milestones early. Heat doesn't bother her to much. She has had a few illnesses' this year but only colds flu and random vomitting from gastro... Her uncle has chrons desease and thyroid has never been checked. I will be taking her to the doctor

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could be a malabsorption or Inflammatory bowel

Detailed Answer:
Hi...thanks for your trust in me.

It could be a malabsorption syndrome as her stools is XXXXXXX and floats. Color changes don't seem significant to me. A kid born with good birth weight should not fail to thrive like this.

It is a definite indication for working up for Crohn's disease and Malabsorption syndrome. Family being positive gathers even more significance. There is a sequential work up to be done which her pediatrician will know.

I would be curious to find out what is the end result of work up of your daughter.
Kindly keep me posted.

I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you are happy with my suggestions, please rate my suggestions. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below.
www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad