Bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction are overlooked in the management of neurological conditions: a qualitative interview study.

Although the proportion of children with anorexia-related insufficient caloric intake has decreased due to improvements in dietary patterns following recent economic developments, parents remain concerned about their children’s poor appetite []. The primary clinical features of anorexia include a prolonged loss of appetite and reduced food intake, although symptom severity varies among individuals []. The reported prevalence rates of pediatric anorexia vary across studies, ranging from approximately 14–50% in preschool-aged children and 7–27% in school-aged children []. It most commonly occurs between the ages of 1 and 6, typically beginning during the spoon-feeding or self-feeding stages []. Children who experience prolonged anorexia may develop generalized physical weakness and nonorganic failure to thrive, which can contribute to short stature, developmental delays, and behavioral disorders []. Sustained nutritional insufficiency may result in nutritional imbalances, leading to malnutrition, anemia, rickets, and weakened immunity, necessitating appropriate management []. In 2023, patients under 20 years old with anorexia were more frequently seen at Korean medicine institutions than at conventional medical facilities, indicating a preference for Korean medicine in managing pediatric anorexia []. Additionally, the effectiveness and safety of Korean medicine treatments, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Chuna manual therapy, for pediatric anorexia have been established [–]. However, to the best of our knowledge, Korean medicine clinical practice guidelines (KM-CPG) for pediatric anorexia have not yet been developed. Establishing such guidelines is essential to ensure standardized and evidence-based treatments, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance patient safety. Although international organizations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Guidelines International Network (G-I-N), and National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) have published 19 guidelines [–] on psychiatric eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, none target idiopathic anorexia. Additionally, in China, the Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine Pediatrics addressing pediatric anorexia was published in 2012 [], but it requires updating to reflect current evidence. Therefore, in response to the need for the development of KM-CPGs, the “Korean Medicine Innovative Technologies Development” was launched by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2020. This project supports the development and revision of KM-CPGs and plans to develop 51 new guidelines and update 25 existing guidelines over 10 years []. Pediatric anorexia was also selected as a target disease for the new KM-CPG development project, as it is a frequent disease in the Korean medicine clinical setting.