Differential Diagnosis for Loss of Appetite with Head Injury

• Single most likely diagnosis
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP): Loss of appetite can be a symptom of increased ICP, which can occur after a head injury. The increased pressure can affect areas of the brain responsible for appetite regulation.
• Other Likely diagnoses
  • Concussion: A concussion, a type of mild TBI, can cause a range of symptoms including loss of appetite due to the brain's response to injury.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Head injuries can be traumatic, leading to PTSD, which often includes symptoms like loss of appetite.
  • Basilar Skull Fracture: This type of fracture can affect cranial nerves, potentially leading to symptoms including loss of appetite.
• Do Not Miss diagnoses
  • Epidural Hematoma: A potentially life-threatening condition where bleeding between the skull and the brain can cause increased ICP, leading to symptoms like loss of appetite.
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Bleeding into the space surrounding the brain can cause increased ICP and symptoms including loss of appetite.
  • Meningitis: Infection of the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, can be a complication of head injury and cause loss of appetite among other severe symptoms.
• Rare diagnoses
  • Brain Abscess: A rare but potentially life-threatening complication of head injury, where an abscess forms in the brain, potentially causing loss of appetite among other symptoms.
  • Cranial Nerve Damage: Direct damage to cranial nerves during a head injury can lead to a variety of symptoms, including loss of appetite, depending on which nerves are affected.