Complete Oral Refusal in a Pediatric Patient Following General Anesthetic for Dental Surgery: A Case Report

This article presents a rare case of a five-year-old pediatric patient who refused all oral intake, including swallowing saliva, for 1 week following general anesthesia for dental surgery. The patient was hospitalized for further investigation and nutritional support. After an 8-day stay, the patient was discharged at their baseline condition, having gradually started eating with continuous encouragement. No underlying medical causes were identified. The patient had a history of anxiety before the surgery, and this case highlights the critical role of addressing anxiety in postoperative care, as well as the possibility of this behavior being a rare manifestation of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).