Taste Disturbance or Loss of Appetite

Mouth | General Practice | Taste Disturbance or Loss of Appetite (Symptom)


Description

Loss of appetite is usually temporary and due to an emotional upset or minor illness. Persistent loss of appetite may have a more serious underlying cause, such as chronic infection or cancer.

Causes

Loss of appetite medically referred to as anorexia, can be caused by a variety of conditions and diseases. Some of the conditions can be temporary and reversible, such as loss of appetite from the effects of medications. Some of the conditions can be more serious, such as from the effects of underlying cancer. Any persisting lack of appetite should be evaluated by a health care professional.

Stress is often a reason for loss of appetite in an individual. Anxiety, depression, mental stress, etc. can at times, drives a person away from food and eating. A case of flu, fever, common cold, stomach infection, etc. almost always results in a temporary loss of appetite. At times, loss of appetite can be an early symptom of something serious, such as stomach cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc. Loss of appetite in the first trimester of pregnancy is a common phenomenon.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Here are a few ways of treating a temporary case of loss of appetite: get enough exercise, in case of fever-induced appetite loss, try eating a small bowl of raisins mixed with a little amount of salt and black pepper, in case of persistent stress or depression-induced appetite loss, it is needed to consult a therapist.

If it is a serious case of loss of appetite, then certain homeopathic medicines can help in overcoming it. In this case however, it is advisable to consult a doctor who can prescribe the necessary medication.

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