Friends 13 yr old v weak after covid and doesn't want to eat

[Molly333]

Hi all does anyone have advice with regards this situation? . My friends son has had covid, just past the 14 day mark. He is weak and can't bare to eat as all food tastes awful . He's sleeping a lot and now overwelmed by even looking at food . He is a small frame so cannot afford not to eat either. Mum is trying anything offering all options to him but he's just not wanting to eat. She's going to call the GP but does anyone else have any ideas ?

Is he drinking?

Those shake drinks that older people use are easy to get hold of. Lucozade, not the sugar free stuff and a Drs appointment. Must be a worry for them.

A few spoonfuls of chicken soup.. my DD had terrible flu a few years ago and it was all she would eat. Even after making nine broth from scratch, she only managed a few spoonfuls.

Agree with milkshake meals and soup, he’s old enough to realise that it’s important to try and eat even if it doesn’t taste the same. Little and often is the way to go.

In january my daughter lost a huge amount of weight while ill with flu. We were having wkly weighings at GP as they were si concerned. It was 2half months before weight stablised but then she gained. Worth liaising with GP. Offer anything they fancy, lots of fluid. If child worsens seek further medical support x

A few sips of full sugar coke perhaps (I don't think you can get Lucozade without sweeteners anymore). Very low blood sugar levels make you feel even more week / nauseous so if they can raise these a bit, some of his appetite may return.
Haribo or boiled sweets / jelly / milkshakes also high sugar and easy to eat in small amounts.
Once his appetite is a bit better, try plain biscuits / toast / soup

I remember when I had (proper) flu a few years ago the only foods I could face were yoghurt, toast and digestive biscuits.

Luckily we had cherry yoghurts in or I probably would have got scurvy!

Can you get Fresubin and Ensure type drinks? Or a sugary drink with a pique to get his interest.
I can imagine it's a worry.

Years ago a dietician told me that if I didn't feel like I could eat then don't force it, but make sure to drink a small cup of milk whenever I thought of it and at least hourly.
Maybe a similar 'little and often' approach might help him?

Elderly in law's were prescribed fortisip and nutrishake type drinks as they weren't eating anything but needed calories

If he's completely lost his appetite, just getting calories in to him is the priority, so forgetting about healthy eating for a bit and just going with anything he will eat - biscuits, chocolate, ice cream, what ever.

Nourishing drinks are good as pp have mentioned, as it's often easier to eat than drink - if he likes milk, that's great, use full fat milk to make any milkshakes or milky drinks, you can fortify the milk further by adding 4tbsp of skim milk powder per pint of milk. Milkshake drinks like build up can also be good. Otherwise smoothies and lucozade are good options.

Things that are easy to eat can be good, so snacks things like cheese and biscuits, mini pork pie or sausage rolls, thick and creamy yogurts or any dessert pots like little trifles, mousses etc, nuts and seeds, flapjack or cereal bars.

It's such a worry when kids aren't eating, hopefully he'll pick up soon, but contacting the GP sounds good too.

My mum is just recovering from Covid and her sense of taste is also a mess. She’s also found that the things she’d usually like when ill, like soup, just don’t appeal. She says lots of things are tasting stronger than usual rathe than dull as you’d expect, and can’t stand anything like artificial sweeteners like the aforementioned soft drinks and Ensure.
Things that have gone down well are salty things, cheese, and satsumas/sweet fruit.

I'd start with ice poles and lime jelly. Something tangy, it might make him just want more ice poles and jelly but it might make him want to other stuff too.

Ice pops is an excellent suggestion.

In my darkest D&V days, I could always fancy an ice pop!

@BuffaloCauliflower

My mum is just recovering from Covid and her sense of taste is also a mess. She’s also found that the things she’d usually like when ill, like soup, just don’t appeal. She says lots of things are tasting stronger than usual rathe than dull as you’d expect, and can’t stand anything like artificial sweeteners like the aforementioned soft drinks and Ensure. Things that have gone down well are salty things, cheese, and satsumas/sweet fruit.

Sorry completely x posted there with regards to tangyness!

Thanks so much everyone I'm passing on all your suggestions. You are all so helpful thankyou

I'm on day 12 and really struggling with appetite too, the taste in my mouth is vile and nothing tastes right.

I have been sipping cold coke, the full sugar version, this is my go to if I'm ever ill as the sugar definitely helps. Today I've managed a toasted bagel with butter and a jacket potato with a bit of cheese. I'm just trying to have a little bit of something as I know the longer I go the worse I will feel.

I would literally let him have whatever he wants for now but explain how awful lack of food and low blood sugar will make you feel to try to encourage him to start eating a little.

My dad was terminally ill and in addition to the high calories shakes and juice he was also given a colourless and tasteless piercer to be added to food. It was 200 calories a scoop and we added it to drinks and things like scrambled eggs etc.

Dd had pneumonia a few years back and was off her food, I made up a chicken stock and she was having that with small soup pasta and vegetables, literally just a spoon of solid to start with and she gradually built it up it took a really long time to recover.

I lost my appetite with covid too, only thing I could face was sips of full fat coke and bits of toast and butter.

Go to a website called garden of life and order these meal replacement shakes. Best thing I did with covid

My taste changes whenever I am ill, it's disgusting, even my spit tastes vile.

Weirdly, the only things I can usually handle are egg Mayo and tuna Mayo. I assume because they're salty and override the taste while also being mushy and easy to swallow.

Go for things that rely on texture. Ice-cream, jelly, ice pops, maybe spaghetti and cheese. Don't rely so much on taste.