A Survey of 72 Children with Eating Disorders in Habilitation Center for Children

― A Survey at First medical examination ―

Abstract

Among 1258 pediatric patients who had newly attended the outpatient clinic in our Rehabilitation Center for Children during a period of two years and three months from September 2003 to December 2006, 72 children with eating disorders were eligible for the present survey based on their actual condition as an outpatient. The age at the first medical examination was one year old at most in 36 cases followed by two years old in 19 cases. The rate of referral from other departments in the Center to the outpatient clinic for eating disorders was 5.7%. The rate of referral from the Rehabilitation Department was as high as 44.9% of new pediatric patients, indicating the potentially high need during rehabilitation for functional therapy for eating.

As for primary disease, cerebral motor disorders such as cerebral palsy accounted for half or more of the patients enrolled in this survey. There were eight cases of mental retardation without motor disturbance. Unstable neck was the most common regarding the development of gross motor function, while mal-acquisition of swallowing function and/or capturing function was frequently observed when eating function was subsequently evaluated.

As for the development of gross motor function in relation to eating function in the present subjects, it was demonstrated that children with immature gross motor function tend to have an immature eating function as well. These findings suggest it is necessary not only to understand the patient's general condition accurately and to promote the development of gross motor function as far as possible, but also to devise an appropriate chair and/or caring approach in order to allow eating in a stable posture and to give adequate guidelines for attaining an improved eating function in children.

As for the eating function in relation to the shape of food daily taken by the subjects, there were many children who were eating food of a shape that was difficult for them to eat due to their eating function, suggesting that their parents need to understand the child's oral function and to be instructed concerning the shape of food suitable for their children's eating function.

The results of the present survey indicate that various approaches are necessary to promote the development of eating function in children. In rehabilitation centers, not only medical treatment but also training, attending manner at a kindergarten and rehabilitation are conducted in daily activities. In order to achieve a comprehensive eating function therapy, rehabilitation centers should coordinate the specialized abilities of various professionals through a team approach.