Consequences when the baby is anorexic for a long time

Anorexia is an eating and mental health disorder that occurs when a child does not want to eat and tries to vomit food. If the child is suspected of having anorexia, parents should take the child to see a pediatrician or a psychologist. Treatment for prolonged anorexia may require psychotherapy and medication.

Despite its prevalence, experts are still unclear as to why children develop anorexia for a long time. However, a number of risk factors are thought to be related to children's prolonged anorexia, including:
Gender: female. Girls have a higher frequency of anorexia than boys. Children have a certain type of personality or strong personality. Some children, for example, have a perfectionist personality or a high-powered person. Child has an obsessive way of thinking. Family history of anorexia nervosa. Children with one of these characteristics have a higher risk of developing anorexia than other children. If your child is anorexic, your love and support will play an important role in helping your child recover from the illness.

Prolonged anorexia can have consequences on almost any organ in the body. These effects can vary from minor infections to serious life-threatening health problems. In some cases, the effects can persist into adulthood, even lasting a lifetime.
Cardiovascular In general, cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in people with severe anorexia. One of the most common negative effects of anorexia is a slow heart rate. Bradycardia is a condition in which the heart rate drops below 60 beats per minute. In a normally healthy person, the heart rate can range from 60 to 100 beats per minute. This number is usually greater in children. When blood flow is reduced and blood pressure drops to dangerous levels, the heart becomes weaker and contracts to a smaller size.
One of the main dangers to the heart stems from a lack of balance of essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. These minerals are normally soluble in body fluids. But given the dehydration and starvation that occur with prolonged anorexia, the reduction in circulating plasma volume and the decrease in mineral salts creates a condition called electrolyte imbalance. Certain electrolytes, like calcium and potassium, are essential for generating the electrical currents the body needs to maintain a normal heart rhythm. That's why an electrolyte imbalance can be so dangerous. A child's life can be at risk if fluids and minerals are not replaced. The risk of cardiovascular complications is higher when anorexia is combined with behaviors associated with bulimia.

Bone System One of the leading health risks of anorexia nervosa is bone related. Nearly 90% of women with anorexia experience a condition known as osteopenia, which is a loss of calcium in the bones. As many as 40% of people with anorexia nervosa may also face osteoporosis, meaning a loss of bone density. More than two-thirds of young children and adolescent girls with anorexia do not develop strong bones during this critical period of their development. Anorexic boys are also often stunted. The lighter the patient, the more severe the bone loss.
Bone loss can begin as early as six months after the anorexia behavior appears. “Adolescence is a narrow period of time for lifelong bone mass accumulation,” says Dr. Diane Mickley, co-chair of the National Eating Disorders Association. Therefore, this is one of the irreversible complications of prolonged anorexia.
Nervous system and mental health In severe cases, anorexia can lead to long-term health risks that can damage nerves and affect the brain and other parts of the body. As a result, the following abnormalities may appear:
Seizures Thought disorders Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy) Brain scans of people with anorexia prolongation indicates structural changes or abnormal activity during disease duration. Some of these abnormalities may disappear with weight recovery, but some brain damage may be permanent.
Blood system One of the most common conditions associated with anorexia is anemia. Dangerously low levels of vitamin B12 were the main cause. When anorexia becomes extreme, the bone marrow reduces the production of blood cells significantly. This condition is called Pancytopenia, and it can also be life-threatening.
Digestive system Anorexia has surprisingly serious consequences for the digestive system. Bloating and constipation are very common in children with anorexia. Since loss of appetite often goes hand in hand with binge eating, regurgitation or subsequent vomiting can expose the digestive system to excess stomach acid and lead to conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease. and esophagitis.
Internal organs When anorexia persists, the body's organs will decrease in activity. This is a serious complication. The first major sign of multiple organ failure is usually elevated liver enzyme levels in the blood. To reverse this, children need to take in some calories.

An important rule to remember is that anorexia persists as a medical and mental health problem, so it is difficult for children to recover on their own. Children need consistent treatment and support from the family. This means that parents shouldn't be afraid to closely monitor their child's eating behavior. Parents should make sure their children eat a variety of nutritious and varied foods each day.
Besides, to limit prolonged anorexia, children need to be supplemented with necessary micronutrients: Zinc, selenium, chromium, Vitamins B1 and B6, (vitamin C),... to improve taste, eat well, reach the correct height and weight and exceed the standard, have a good immune system, strengthen the resistance to get sick less often and have less digestive problems.
The improvement of symptoms can take place for a long time, so it is recommended that parents be calm and persistent when supplementing with nutrients for children, even through eating or functional foods. If necessary, you can consult with doctors, nutritionists about the reasonable and effective supplementation with the current health status of the child
To gain more nutritional knowledge and care for children According to each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading pediatricians and nutritionists of Vinmec International General Hospital when they need advice on children's health.