Question
The child, suffering from long-term loss of appetite, visited a traditional Chinese medicine hospital and received three prescriptions of appetite stimulants. However, after taking two doses, the child experienced persistent frothy stools with an unpleasant odor, and the appetite remained unchanged. The child refused to eat all day, and the parents had to force feed.
Answer
When dealing with a child’s diarrhea, it is not advisable to focus solely on gastrointestinal function. Malnutrition or other potential pathological conditions may also affect appetite. Short-term malnutrition will not affect intelligence. If there is a lack of appetite, consider providing necessary nutritional support through intravenous injection while correcting iron deficiency and malnutrition. In terms of diet, avoid giving only white rice porridge; you can gradually introduce vegetable soup and encourage the child to eat fruits and fruit juices to ensure a balanced diet. As the child’s physical condition improves, so will their appetite and other related issues.