Anorexia (symptom)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [2]

Synonyms and keywords: poor appetite, loss of appetite

Overview

Anorexia (deriving from the Greek “α(ν)-” (a(n)-, a prefix that denotes absence) + “όρεξη (orexe) = appetite) is the decreased sensation of appetite. While the term in non-scientific publications is often used interchangeably with anorexia nervosa, many possible causes exist for a decreased appetite, some of which may be harmless, while others indicate a serious clinical condition, or pose a significant risk.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	Congestive heart failure
Chemical / poisoning	Chromotherapy, retinoid, theobromine
Dermatologic	Sporotrichosis
Drug Side Effect	Aciclovir, amphetamine , amphotericin B, antidepressants, aprepitant, benzodiazepine, benzylpiperazine, calcitriol, caspofungin acetate, chromotherapy, cocaine, cyclophosphamide, dextromethamphetamine, dextromethylphenidate, diacetylmorphine, diflunisal, doxycycline, enfuvirtide, febuxostat, fluconazole, fluvoxamine, gold salts, hydralazine, hydrochlorothiazide, ivermectin, ketorolac, leptoprin, methylphenidate, mifepristone, minocycline hydrochloride, mirtazapine, modafinil, moxifloxacin, naltrexone, paroxetine, pipradrol, piroxicam, probenecid,pyrazinamide, ribavirin, rifaximin, rivastigmine, siltuximab, sorafenib, St John’s wort, stimulants, theobromine, topiramate, tretinoin, valaciclovir, ziconotide, zidovudine, zopiclone
Ear Nose Throat	Mastoiditis
Endocrine	Anorexia nervosa, binge eating, bulimia nervosa, carotenodermia, diabetic neuropathy
Environmental	Acute radiation syndrome
Gastroenterologic	Acute fatty liver of pregnancy, anorexia nervosa, appendicitis, binge eating, colorectal cancer, Crohn’s Disease, defensive vomiting, hepatitis, hepatitis E, hymenolepiasis, hypervitaminosis D, Lábrea fever, milk-alkali syndrome, superior mesenteric artery syndrome, ulcerative colitis
Genetic	Acute fatty liver of pregnancy, Crohn’s Disease
Hematologic	Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	Acute viral nasopharyngitis (common cold), AIDS, astroviridae, Chagas disease, community-acquired pneumonia, cryptosporidium parvum, encephalitis, hepatitis, hepatitis E, mumps, Oropouche fever, pneumonia, Pott’s disease, relapsing fever, rhinovirus, COVID-19-associated anorexia
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	Mastoiditis
Neurologic	Chronic fatigue syndrome, craniopharyngioma, dementia, encephalitis
Nutritional / Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
Oncologic	Chromotherapy, colorectal cancer, craniopharyngioma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Opthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity	Acute radiation syndrome , chromotherapy, cocaine, gold salts , hypervitaminosis D, vitamin A
Psychiatric	Anorexia nervosa, binge eating, borderline personality disorder, bulimia nervosa, clinical depression, defensive vomiting, dementia, depression, hangover, obsessive-compulsive disorder, opioid dependency, orthorexia nervosa, panic disorder
Pulmonary	Acute viral nasopharyngitis (common cold), atypical pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia, pneumonia
Renal / Electrolyte	Chronic renal failure, diabetic neuropathy, hangover, hypercalcemia
Rheum / Immune / Allergy	Chronic fatigue syndrome
Sexual	AIDS
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	Chronic renal failure, diabetic neuropathy, hypercalcemia
Miscellaneous	Chronic mountain sickness, high altitude

Causes in Alphabetical Order

References

↑ Exton MS (1997). “Infection-induced anorexia: active host defence strategy”. Appetite. 29 (3): 369–83. doi:10.1006/appe.1997.0116. PMID 9468766.
↑ Murray MJ, Murray AB (1979). “Anorexia of infection as a mechanism of host defense”. Am J Clin Nutr. 32 (3): 593–6. PMID 283688.

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[pmid9468766-1] Exton MS (1997). “Infection-induced anorexia: active host defence strategy”. Appetite. 29 (3): 369–83. doi:10.1006/appe.1997.0116. PMID 9468766.

[pmid283688-2] Murray MJ, Murray AB (1979). “Anorexia of infection as a mechanism of host defense”. Am J Clin Nutr. 32 (3): 593–6. PMID 283688.

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