Pediatric feeding disorder, chronic

This code describes a persistent and ongoing inability or refusal to eat adequately, leading to nutritional deficiencies, growth faltering, or functional impairment in infants and children. It encompasses a range of feeding difficulties that are not transient or acute, impacting the child's overall health and development.

Use this code when documentation indicates a long-standing feeding problem in a pediatric patient, such as persistent food refusal, selective eating leading to nutrient deficits, or difficulty with oral intake requiring intervention. Supporting documentation should include details on the duration of the feeding issue, its impact on growth or nutrition, and any associated clinical findings.

• Differentiate from acute feeding problems or transient picky eating; this code implies chronicity.
• Consider co-occurring conditions like dysphagia (R13.1x) or failure to thrive (R62.51) and code them separately if documented.
• Ensure documentation specifies "chronic" or indicates a prolonged duration of the feeding disorder to support this specific code.