AIM To investigate the epidemiological features of 60 cases of infantile anorexia in Keqiao district of Shaoxing, China. METHODS Sixty cases of infantile anorexia in Keqiao district of Shaoxing, China were included from June 2015 to October 2017 as a research group, and 60 cases of noninfantile anorexia in Keqiao district of Shaoxing were selected as a control group. The epidemiological features were analyzed and compared in the two groups. RESULTS The time to introduction of solid food was significantly later in the research group than in the control group (5.22 mo ± 0.96 mo vs 3.84 mo ± 0.77 mo, P < 0.05). Body weight and height were significantly lower in the research group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The rate of mixed feeding was significantly lower and the rate of breast feeding was significantly higher in the research group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The interest in food was significantly lower in the research group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The rates of dietary bias, often eating snacks and drinking beverages, playing when eating, social withdrawal, and dependence on family were significantly higher in the research group than in the control group, while the rate of loving eating vegetables and meat was significantly lower in the research group (P < 0.05). The rate of paying attention to childhood nutrition was significantly lower and the degree of spoiling children was significantly higher in the research group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of hemoglobin, red blood cell count, calcium, iron, copper, and zinc were significantly lower in the research group than in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in birth weight, rate of artificial feeding, rate of loving dessert, personality, or magnesium content between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Infantile anorexia in Keqiao district of Shaoxing has complex etiological factors such as mostly breastfeeding in babyhood, later introduction of solid food, and lower weight and height. Anorexia is usually related to low interest in food, poor dietary habit, social withdrawal, high dependence on family, paying no enough attention to childhood nutrition, spoiling children, lack of mineral elements, and low levels of hemoglobin and red blood cell count. © The Author(s) 2018.
