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Introduction: this article examines a boy who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at eight years old. Pediatricians and family physicians encountered difficulties during the diagnosis and treatment stages due to the fact that early onset of the disease is rare. Case report: a boy aged eight years and four months presented with bradicardia, malnutrition and dehydration as far away from the preliminary diagnosis of anorexia nervosa investigated for possible organic pathologies at the pediatric ward. Finally, he was diagnosed with early-onset anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. Discussion: the case highlights two important points. First, this case report demonstrates a limited awareness of anorexia nervosa and of a psychosomatic or psychiatric origin of weight loss in children among physicians. Second, disrupted eating behaviors and mood changes may be predicting factors for the development of full-blown anorexia nervosa. Resumen Introducción: se presenta el caso clínico de un niño diagnosticado de anorexia nerviosa a los 8 años. Tanto los pediatras como los médicos de familia tuvieron problemas durante el diagnóstico y en el tratamiento debido a que su aparición a tan corta edad es poco frecuente. Caso clínico: un varón de ocho años y cuatro meses ingresó por bradicardia, desnutrición y deshidratación en un hospital pediátrico. Tras el despistaje de un origen orgánico, se diagnosticó de anorexia nerviosa y trastorno de ansiedad según DSM-5. Discusión: el caso pone de relieve dos aspectos. El primero, demuestra la atención limitada que prestan los médicos a un origen psicosomático o psiquiátrico, incluyendo la anorexia nerviosa, en una pérdida de peso en un niño. El segundo, que una alteración en la conducta alimentaria acompañada de cambios de carácter pueden ser factores predictores del desarrollo de un cuadro de anorexia nerviosa florido.

Introduction: this article examines a boy who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at eight years old. Pediatricians and family physicians encountered difficulties during the diagnosis and treatment stages due to the fact that early onset of the disease is rare. Case report: a boy aged eight years and four months presented with bradicardia, malnutrition and dehydration as far away from the preliminary diagnosis of anorexia nervosa investigated for possible organic pathologies at the pediatric ward. Finally, he was diagnosed with early-onset anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. Discussion: the case highlights two important points. First, this case report demonstrates a limited awareness of anorexia nervosa and of a psychosomatic or psychiatric origin of weight loss in children among physicians. Second, disrupted eating behaviors and mood changes may be predicting factors for the development of full-blown anorexia nervosa.