Dear doctor;

My son is now seven but he still has a habit of chewing his pills however bitter they are. As a baby, I thought it was something that would pass as he grows, but it appears there is no change for now. Could it be that his taste buds for bitterness are not developed or is this some form of abnormality? Is it okay for one to chew pills like that and just drink water to ‘rinse’ the mouth with afterwards? James, 41.

Dear James,

If your son is chewing only prescription pills, there should be no cause for anxiety. If he has likes and dislikes regarding other kinds of foods, demands chocolates, cakes, among other food items liked by children, it means that he has fully developed taste buds. He is chewing the pills because either he likes the bitter taste or he does not mind it. There does not seem to be any abnormality. There are many food items such as bitter gourd, radish, artichoke,  broccoli, among others which are bitter in taste but people eat them fondly.