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Children's health

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Original poster

Out of mind with worry, dd (nearly 4) has decided she doesn't like food and had eaten nothing for over 4 days

124 replies

beatofthedrum · 27/12/2011 07:30

My dd has always been a picky eater but eaten the food she 'likes' in decent quantities and have always been careful to ensure a balanced diet. Last wed she started behaving strangely with her food, holding it in her mouth a long time and wanting drinks to persuade her to swallow it. By Thursday she was saying she disliked all her favourite foods and mealtimes were stressful. On Friday she stopped eating. Totally stopped and no amount of persuading/telling her Santa was watching/trying to act casual and let her choose worked. She didn't eat Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (I'm crying typing this, it is scaring me so much). She keeps spitting into her hands and sitting there with it and she is such a fastidious little girl usually, can't best paint on her hands etc. She is letting saliva hang out of her mouth, really regressive behaviour. Christmas has been totally spoilt by the worry of this. Everyone is telling me to act casual and I have tried, believe me, but how long can you leave a situation when a little girl is voluntarily eating absolutely nothing. I manage to be casual for a few hours then I lose it, either begging her to eat or (not proud of it) shouting at her. I've phoned NHS Direct twice and they've been great but all they could do was direct us to an out of hours gp who ruled out temperature, sores in her mouth/throat. He gave us oral thrush medicine just incase was that though he could see nothing but she won't let ANYTHING in her mouth, both hands over mouth screaming crazily. I am so scared. Last night she started eating while watching tv. She ate one babybel then asked for 2 more. Refused everything else I quietly slipped beside her. Went to bed feeling much brighter but she was up in night with very sore tummy and 2 big vomiting bouts - she lost all that she'd eaten. What can I do?? Surgeries not open till tomo. Does nit really seem a GP issue as she seems to be developing some kind of phobia about food. Could really do with some advice. Thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 27/12/2011 08:53

And definitely don't tell her off for not eating

BandOMothers · 27/12/2011 08:57

HAve you checked her mouth for sores? My DD did very similar things when she has Hand and Foot and Mouth....look for spots around her mouth and on her hands and ulcers inside.

It's not a dangerous illness but very uncomfrotable.

seeker · 27/12/2011 08:59

Please don't keep offering her all sorts of stuff- she mustn't know that you're worried- even though you are. If she doesn't want to eat, that's fine. Don't make her think she's doing something wrong by listening to her body. Lots of fluids, nice peaceful activities, loads of cuddles. She will not come to any harm not eating for a while- she really won't.

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 09:04

I'm sorry you are going through this.

I would say that it's an unusual way to respond to a bug. Did anything happen just before she began refusing food - any major emotional upset?

Could she have swallowed a small toy or something be stuck in her throat? This would be my most pressing concern. she might not want to tell you in case you are cross.

The fact she wasn't eating for 3-4 days prior to vomiting would make me very concerned indeed.

And the saliva thing is not right either.
I don't want to worry you further. But I want you to take her to the hospital and ask them to help. Explain the odd behaviour, preferably without her being in the same room when you describe it, so they really understand how out of character it is./

She might have a blockage somewhere, might have something stuck in her throat or further down.
Please don't leave it any longer. It's unlikely it's serious but don't take the risk, just get her x rayed and examined properly and rule it out.

Good luck, please let us know how you get on.

Bonsoir · 27/12/2011 09:06

You could try offering her a fizzy drink (Coca Cola?) as it will be good for rehydration and has lots of sugar to give her energy.

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 09:10

I'm sorry if I sound bossy! But it does sound like you need to get this investigated urgently. If it were a dog or cat behaving in this way we would all be really concerned. Something is not right, and in the light of the OP not mentioning any significant upset it's far more likely to be a physiological issue than an emotional one. It's too sudden an onset for an emotional protest imo anyway.

I don't believe she is doing it deliberately and I do think it warrants pushing for further examination - possibly admission to hospital for observation if nothing else. They may well try and fob you off saying it's a bug but refuse to leave until they have made absolutely sure she doesn't have anything stuck.

When children have swallowed something they can become really ill really quickly. (thinking of those Magnetix toys that were pulled from shops after children died from swallowing them).

Please don't delay.

BandOMothers · 27/12/2011 09:14

It really does sound like her mouth is sore...my DD kept acting oddly about eating right before she had hand and foot and mouth.

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 27/12/2011 09:15

Or she just has a bug and went off food for a few days first, yes, call for advice but I don't think talk of kids dying is helpful to an already stressed OP

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 09:15

But the GP already checked her mouth...and it wouldn't cause vomiting.

CheerfulYank · 27/12/2011 09:16

I would have her checked out to be on the safe side, but it could very well just be a bug. Sometimes when I'm not feeling well things taste very odd, which could be why she's spitting things out.

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 09:16

Fanjo, you may be right, but neither is saying 'Oh it's nothing'.

There is NO harm in getting checked out thoroughly.

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 27/12/2011 09:16

My DD had a bug last year where she was really ill for a few days, we thought tonsillitis, eventually we went to A and E where Drs were worried...until she threw up all over them, it was a stomach bug

BandOMothers · 27/12/2011 09:17

The spots can take a few days to come out and my dd certainly vomited at the start.

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 27/12/2011 09:18

I said she should call for advice, if you read my post.

Sillyoldelf · 27/12/2011 09:19

Jennifer are you a health professional ? If not then Seekers advice is sound . It definitely is not an unusual way to respond to a bug . It is unnecessary to use complan type things . As long as DD is taking fluids you really do not need to seek medical advice urgently , wait until the GP surgery is open . Leave snacky things lying around. Milk is fine as long as she is still not being sick . Some of the advice on this thread really worries me to be honest !

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 09:19

Well let's hope it's just that then.

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 27/12/2011 09:20

No harm in getting checked out but harm in telling a stressed woman to rush to A and E so her child.doesn't die

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 27/12/2011 09:21

Id be cautious with milk, took several days after stopping being sick for.my DD to tolerate milk without throwing up everywhere, last week

JenniferEight · 27/12/2011 09:21

Are you, SillyOldElf? I know Seeker's advice is sound, but I would also be concerned about other possibilities and that's why I think the OP would be right to take her dd to be examined properly, as it sounds like the GP only checked her temperature and mouth.

We can have different opinions can't we?

Sillyoldelf · 27/12/2011 09:23

As long as DD is taking fluids and taking interest in her surroundings she will be fine to wait for GP. For eg will she watch her favourite programmes ? Will she take an interest in her new toys.

RandomMess · 27/12/2011 09:23

My thoughts were possibly hand foot mouth disease or it could be herpes - caught from a coldsore, the initial bought can be horrific, give you an extremely sore mouth - I remember friends dd survived on yoghurts for about 3 weeks and it took ages for the dr and dentist to diagnose it.

could be anysort of virus or it could be extreme attention seeking or it could be food phobia (not much help am I really)

Milk is food in itself so provided she is drinking milk she is far from starving but whilst she isn't having many calories she is bound to be less rational than usual. It's good that she's drinking as yes I'd seek medical advice.

IsItMeOr · 27/12/2011 09:24

BandOMothers - I agree, this sounds very like DS was when he had hand, foot and mouth.

OP - have you checked her feet and hands for little spots/blistery type things? DS's mouth was sore for a few days before he got proper symptoms.

Not an unusual way for a child to respond to a bug at all in my experience JenniferEight - not sure why you say that.

But I would also be wanting to get my DC checked out, if I was as worried as the OP is. You've got to trust your instincts.

Sillyoldelf · 27/12/2011 09:24

jennifer yes I am a qualified health professional .

BandOMothers · 27/12/2011 09:24

I agree that Complan is a bad idea.

BandOMothers · 27/12/2011 09:26

Is it me It does doesn't it? It's the drooling and unhappiness at things in her mouth that sounds like it...and it really does begin to show before the spots do....

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