Phenylketonuria, or PKU, is the result of the mutation of a single gene. The genetic mutation causes children born with PKU to be unable to convert the amino acid phenylalanine into tyrosine. Excess phenylalanine then accumulates and causes...
Weight loss and lack of appetite are symptoms that may occur as a result of lifestyle decisions, or as a result of pathological processes, the most serious of which is cancer. Determining the cause of these symptoms can be difficult, as they may...
Your image of pregnancy might be one of wild cravings and perhaps some overeating, but many women lose their appetite while they pregnant, particularly during their first trimester. While a lack of appetite is common, getting the right nutrients...
The medical term for losing your appetite, which results in a poor diet, is anorexia, which is different from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder whereby people obsess about losing weight and purposely don't eat. Anorexia nervosa is an emotional...
A reduced appetite, also known as anorexia, may be a sign of an underlying health condition. Numerous conditions or illnesses can negatively affect your appetite. However, your appetite should return once your underlying condition is treated....
Many types of cancers are treated with chemotherapy drugs. Certain chemotherapy drugs such as adriamycin, cisplatin and cytoxan, as well as some radiation therapy may cause nausea and vomiting that can cause a lack of appetite, according to the...
As a single symptom, fatigue is a common complaint that is rarely indicative of a serious disease, according to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. However, fatigue and changes in appetite can also be a first sign of impending disease or...
Loss of appetite means you don't have the desire to eat, which is not a normal condition, and is called anorexia, according to MedlinePlus. Anorexia is different from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, in which the patient has the desire to eat...
Loss of appetite and nausea are common symptoms that affect everyone at some point. The symptoms of lack of appetite and nausea are often non-specific can occur as a result of a variety of conditions. The most common causes of nausea and lack of...
Patients with hepatitis C have a viral infection that attacks and damages the liver. Good nutrition is essential for hepatitis C patients since treatments for the disease may adversely affect appetite. Also, poor diet practices may cause symptoms...
A cancer diagnosis doesn't only affect your body---it can also affect your mind, spirit and emotional health. People with cancer can suffer from depression and anxiety, says the National Cancer Institute. The constant worry, fear and feelings of...
A loss of appetite is generally a signal of an underlying disease or medical condition. There are several causes of loss of appetite, some ranging from a minor illness to a severe problem that needs medical intervention. Other symptoms may...
Rapid weight loss and lack of appetite are typically side effects of a medication or symptoms of an underlying disorder that may be very serious. If you are experiencing either rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, or both, see your medical care...
Diarrhea and vomiting are common symptoms of many illnesses and conditions that can affect your toddler. Many illnesses are also associated with loss of appetite, while sore roof-of-the-mouth usually indicates a more specialized condition. Always...
There is a wide range of possibilities that could affect appetite, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Seniors often develop a loss of appetite for a variety of reasons ranging from poor health to emotional disorders. Medical conditions ranging...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin needed by our bodies. We can ingest vitamin D in foods we eat, or our bodies can make it when our skin is exposed to the sun. The average population can get adequate amounts of vitamin D through their diets....
Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, works in the body to create myelin, hemoglobin and to synthesize norepinephrine and serotonin. An adequate supply of B6 is needed to keep blood cells, mucous membranes, skin, and the peripheral nerves healthy,...
In most cases, parents do not need to worry about a growing child's appetite. As long as the child is at a healthy weight, you don't likely need to be concerned that she is not eating enough. If you are worried that there may be a medical reason...
Focalin XR is the brand name for extended-release dexmethylphenidate, which is a stimulant medication used for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. "Extended release" indicates that it is effective for up...
The University of Maryland Medial Center describes an hemangioma as a buildup of blood vessels in the liver. Liver hemangiomas, known as hepatic hemangiomas, are noncancerous and can become apparent at any age, but are mainly seen in women between...
A loss of appetite can occur for a variety of reasons, and once the underlying cause has been discovered, steps can be taken to restore appetite and acquire necessary nutrition. For those with a serious illness, loss of appetite can be especially...
Zinc is found in every cell of the human body. This trace mineral is essential for a wide range of functions, such as immune system, taste, vision and thyroid function. Zinc also has an important role in appetite regulation. Consult a qualified...
"Short stature" is a term that is applied generally to any child that is below the third percentile for his age on a standard growth chart. This means that a child with short stature is shorter than 97% of other children his age. The ideal way...
Zocor is the brand name of simvastatin, which is a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. A common name for this class of medications is "statins." The medication is indicated for individuals over the age of 10; females may use the medication one year after...
Hepatitis is the inflammation, or irritation, of the liver by a chemical or microorganism such as hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C infection typically spreads by contamination of blood or by sexual contact. It's common in people who inject drugs,...
When an elderly relative does not want to eat, it can be emotionally distressing. No cause is identified in approximately 26 percent of cases, according to Evaluating and Treating Unintentional Weight Loss in the Elderly, published in 2002 in...
A loss of appetite is not feeling hungry and not wanting to eat. While this condition is common during bouts of mild illness, if it persists over time, it might indicate a more serious physical or mental condition. A loss of appetite may also...
A study performed at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that a loss of 4 to 5 percent of body weight within one year largely increases an elderly person's risk of mortality. Furthermore, institutionalized seniors who experience a 5...
Diet plays a key role in overall health and longevity, and medication affects how your body digests, absorbs and utilizes the nutrients in the foods you consume. If you take one or more prescription medications to manage a health condition,...
Hepatitis D is an inflammation of the liver caused by viral infection. Symptoms include jaundice, nausea, and lack of appetite. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of hepatitis D in this health video.