Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Two-Year-Old Eating Poorly and Vomiting Often | | | QUESTION | | | My 2½-year-old son is constantly vomiting, which seems to be related to food texture (anything wet, soft, or slimy in his mouth or on his hands). When he has a runny nose or a coughing spell he vomits. I cannot tell if this is intentional or not. He goes days without eating and survives on milk. As a result, he is extremely anemic, which seems to be his pediatrician's only concern. Should I seek a second opinion or just keep hoping he grows out of it?
Also, when he had minor surgery, I was told that a breathing tube could not be inserted through his nose; it was pointed out to me that he always breathes through his mouth. Could these problems be related?— TripleBAD in Bozeman, MT | | | ANSWER |
December 19, 2001 | | | Dear TripleBAD,
It is always right to get a second opinion any time you feel that your child is not doing well, and you sense that the medical care he is receiving is not working. A 2½-year-old who lives only on milk is not getting adequate nutrition. Iron deficiency is one thing; lack of varied protein sources, fiber, and vitamins and minerals is another. This is a problem that surely needs to be addressed.
In my experience--and in the medical research--children who have blocked nasal passages often develop poor eating, or growth problems. Breathing through the mouth only is often a sign that the nasal airways are blocked, usually by adenoids, which are masses of tissue, similar to tonsils, that sit at the back of the nose (where you cannot see them, without special equipment). A minor operation to remove the large adenoids cures the mouth-breathing and the eating problems in many cases. You may need to work with other professionals (for example, a pediatric ear, nose, and throat doctor) to help your child get back on track with eating regular foods. It may take time and work to change his dietary patterns. But, in cases where large adenoids are contributing to the problem, having them out usually is a good place to start.
— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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