Here’s What You need to Know about Kanmushi and Sugar Bugs

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:47:15 -0600

Kanmushi is a described syndrome in traditional Japanese medicine that is said to be linked to an insatiable desire for sugar and “insomnia, crying, irritability, bad mood, night terrors, biting people, biting nails, abdominal bloating due to over-eating, temporary fever, vomiting milk, vomiting in general, poor appetite, diarrhea, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, easily catches cold, allotriophagy (desire for unusual or abnormal food), excessive drooling, tics, urticaria and swollen lymph glands.”

The primary identifying marker of Kanmushi is suggested to be a prominent blue vein on the child’s nose, commonly known as a sugar bug.

Truth? Unlikely. Any syndrome that crosses over this number of systems and describes what often normal symptoms (at least temporarily) should be considered with extreme caution (or ignored).

No scientific studies have shown a link between sugar bugs and any clinical condition.

The good news about Kanmushi are the recommendations for treatment: limit processed sugar, encourage healthy play and set clear boundaries.

Guess what?

I don’t need to diagnose a child with a syndrome to encourage these habits but if it helps encourage these healthy habits…maybe we should all have it.

Learn more about Sugar Bugs from Dr. Smith by clicking here.

Get to know Justin Smith, M.D.

Justin Smith, M.D., is a pediatrician in Trophy Club and the Medical Advisor for Digital Health for Cook Children's in Fort Worth, Texas. He has an active community on both Facebook and Twitter as @TheDocSmitty and writes weekly for Cook Children's checkupnewsroom.com. He believes that strategic use of social media and technology by pediatricians to connect with families can deepen their relationship and provide a new level of convenience for both of their busy lifestyles. Dr. Smith’s innovative pediatric clinic, a pediatric clinic “designed by you,” open now. Click to learn more. To make an appointment, call 817-347-8100.

Is That Blue Vein Across Your Child's Nose a Sugar Bug?

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:41:33 -0600

Have you ever noticed a prominent blue vein across your child’s nose?

Maybe you thought it was no big deal. Maybe you heard something about it that made you worry.

Here are 4 facts about sugar bugs that you should know:

1.Prominent veins are common in the newborn, infancy and childhood period. They can occur on the face, hands/feet, trunk and extremities (basically all over). If you look closely enough in all babies, you’ll find some veins that are more noticeable than others.

2.One suggested link with sugar bugs has been an association with mutations in a gene known as MTHFR. MTHFR mutations are common, approximately 50 percent of the population carries some type of mutation. The significance of MTHFR mutations is still unclear but no studies link the presence of sugar bugs to these mutations. You can read more about MTHFR mutations and there significance here: A Pediatrician Goes In-depth into MTHFR.

3.While it has been speculated by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine that sugar bugs might suggest a syndrome (known as Kanmushi) where children show a voracious appetite and severe sensitivity to sugar, I find no evidence that support this is a true connection.

4.Proponents of Kanmushi suggest that you limit your child’s sugar intake, provide a structured environment and opportunities for physical activity. Obviously, these are great ideas for all children.

So, should you be worried about your child’s sugar bug?

It’s always possible that further information could surface, but given current theories and information, I would say that any connection to a more serious issue is unfounded and not a concern.

Learn more about Kanmushi by clicking here.

Get to know Justin Smith, M.D.

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Here’s What You need to Know about Kanmushi and Sugar Bugs

Is That Blue Vein Across Your Child's Nose a Sugar Bug?