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[Anorexia nervosa in boys--a case report]
C Severien1, A Benden, U Menken
1Kinderklinik im St.-Josef-Hospital, Universität Bochum.
Fortschritte Der Medizin
|November 30, 1992
Summary
Anorexia nervosa in adolescent males presents with diverse symptoms and medical findings. Early psychiatric evaluation is crucial before extensive medical testing for male adolescents with these symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Adolescent Psychiatry
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa is infrequently diagnosed in adolescent males compared to females.
- This diagnostic rarity prompts extensive medical workups for suspected organic diseases in males presenting with similar symptoms.
Observation:
- A 13.5-year-old male presented with anorexia, weight loss, constipation, cognitive decline, and depression.
- Physical findings included bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, and endocrinopathies (low somatomedin C, tri-iodine thyronine, subnormal thyroxine, blunted TSH response).
- Hematological and imaging studies revealed leukopenia with hyperplastic bone marrow, cerebral ventricular widening, and mitral valve prolapse.
Findings:
- The case highlights significant medical and endocrinological disturbances associated with anorexia nervosa in a male adolescent.
- Reversible pathological findings upon weight restoration underscore the psychosomatic nature of the condition.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider anorexia nervosa in the differential diagnosis for adolescent males presenting with unexplained medical symptoms.
- Prioritizing psychiatric consultation can prevent unnecessary and invasive diagnostic procedures in this population.