Case Report: Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder After Tonsillectomy

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Jul 12

PMID 38993387

Authors

Gellan K Ahmed

Ahmed A Karim

Eman M Khedr

Khaled Elbeh

Amira Moheb

Marwa Abokresha

Nourelhoda A Haridy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a newly classified eating disorder that requires further understanding of its presentation. There is no previous report of ARFID in a child post-tonsillectomy. ARFID may be a potential negative outcome for children following oropharyngeal surgery.

Case Presentation: A female child aged 10 years and 2 months presented with ARFID associated with depression, anxiety and nutritional deficiency following tonsillectomy. She had more difficulty in swallowing solids than fluids and had repeated vomiting and spitting food after chewing it. She became dehydrated and malnourished with a BMI of 10.5 and was misdiagnosed with myasthenic gravis.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first case report of ARFID in a child post-tonsillectomy. We discuss the pathophysiology of ARFID, which remains elusive, and recommend psychiatric assessment when evaluating children post operative tonsillectomy.

Citing Articles

Development and Management of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Food Neophobia in Pediatric Patients with Food Allergy: A Comprehensive Review.

Nocerino R, Mercuri C, Bosco V, Giordano V, Simeone S, Guillari A Nutrients. 2024; 16(17).

PMID: 39275348 PMC: 11397472. DOI: 10.3390/nu16173034.

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