Eating Disorders (anorexia nervosa / bulimia)

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Pre-referral work-up

History

Clinic Scope: The assessment, diagnosis and management of children and adolescents with a wide range of disordered eating including anorexia nervosa/bulaemia are handled in the eating disorder clinic.

  • Patients do not need to meet full criteria for a specified eating disorder to be referred.
  • Note: Young people's presentations with eating disorders may differ significantly from adults. Common presentations include: concerns about health and fitness, fears of vomiting or abdominal pain, concerns about body shape.
  • The physiological effects of malnutrition are more pronounced in young people due to the higher energy demands for growth.
  • Young people who have lost weight rapidly from a high weight to a weight in the 'healthy' range may actually be physically compromised and require assistance.
  • Consider eating disorders when reviewing children and adolescents of either gender who have lost weight or failed to gain weight.
  • Always consider a high level of parent concern regarding a child's eating habits, weight shape or fitness concerns an appropriate trigger for referral.
  • Patients with eating disorders may also be at risk of suicide or self harm. These patients can be discussed with the triage team Clare House / CAMHS for urgent advice. On consultation with the paediatric consultant and the CAMHS team, admission may be considered. The admission is usually of shorter duration than if the patient were physically comprised.
  • History to include:
    • The period of time of weight loss and rate of weight loss; dietary habits; exercise including any sports injuries; mental health concerns.

Tests

Examination and Investigations:

All patients require:

  1. Bare (or close) weight
  2. Accurate height
  3. BMI checked against centile chart for age
  4. Temperature, pulse
  5. Blood pressure: Lying (quietly for five minutes) and standing

Also useful:

  • Past weights and heights
  • Baseline bloods - UE, Cr, Ca, PO, Mg, FBC, TFT
  • ECG
  • Menstrual history
  • Spot diet history

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Paediatrics clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Please consider providing an " indefinite referral" addressed to both Dr Michelle Williams and Dr Fiona Wagg.

Possible admission criteria to be discussed via RHH Switch with the Eating Disorder Clinical Nurse Specialist (available three days a week) or when unavailable, the Paediatric Registrar via RHH switch.

Encourage parents to feed young person as they did pre illness.

Restrict exercise until patient seen and stable.

Follow-up: All patients with eating disorders require close and expert monitoring and long-term therapy. This usually involves a combination of adolescent medicine and psychiatry out-patient support.

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Urgent / category 1

Urgent referral if:

Bradycardia (<50 bpm)

Cold hands and feet

Orthostatic pulse jump - pulse jump of >30bpm lying to standing

Dehydration

Hypothermia (temp. <35oC oral)

Electrolyte abnormalities (eg. hypokalaemia, hypernatraemia, hypophosphataemia)

Severe weight loss (>30% of pre-morbid weight)

BMI <5th percentile for age

Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency:

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 1 month.

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.

For any urgent sexual abuse/assault concerns please phone RHH switchboard and ask Paediatric Sexual Assault Consultant or Registrar on call for advice.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 3 months

Routine:

Next available appointment