Failure to thrive (FTT), otherwise called growth faltering, slow growth or poor growth, is a condition that refers to when a baby does not gain weight and does not grow as they need to.
Failure to thrive is not a disease or disorder itself. Rather, it's a sign that a child is undernourished. In general, kids who fail to thrive are not getting enough calories to grow and gain weight in a healthy way. When kids can't gain weight, they also often may not grow as tall as they should.
Failure to thrive (FTT), also known as weight faltering or faltering growth, indicates insufficient weight gain or absence of appropriate physical growth in children.
Failure to thrive (FTT) is a term generally used to describe an infant or child whose current weight or rate of weight gains is significantly below that expected of similar children of the same age, sex and ethnicity.
Social, psychological, and environmental factors. Non accidental trauma – subdural hematoma. Low socioeconomic status. Child neglect, abuse, and poor parent-child interaction.
Babies and infants with autism will not necessarily have FTT and vice versa, but severe feeding problems in very young children should alert doctors to the possibility of autism.
The two kinds of FTT are organic and non-organic. Medical problems such as diarrhea or vomiting that continue may be the cause of organic FTT. If your child has organic FTT, it could be that he or she is not able to take in nutrients from food or formula. Tests will be done to see if there is a medical problem.
Failure to thrive is a delay in weight gain and physical growth that can lead to delays in development and maturation. Medical disorders and a lack of proper nutrition are causes of failure to thrive. The diagnosis is based on a child's growth chart values, physical examination, health history, and home environment.
All children with failure to thrive need a high-calorie diet so that they can catch up in their growth and weight gain. They should be followed up by the doctor at least once a month until they not only catch up to the weight they should be but also maintain that weight gain over time.
FTT is on the list of child disabilities that could be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The SSA accepts FTT with or without a known cause if the child's pediatrician documents low birth weight, poor weight gain, or delayed overall growth for their age.
Inpatient Clinical Pathway for Evaluation/Treatment of Infants with Malnutrition (Failure to Thrive) < 12 months. Failure to thrive (FTT) is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Malnutrition is a diagnosis that more accurately describes inadequate nutrition and can be determined via clinical assessment.
All studies reported that children who had failure to thrive were lighter and shorter than comparison children at follow up. The majority of index children were however above the 3rd centile for both weight and height. Three studies reported that parental height was on average shorter for the cases.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Normal growth and development may be affected if a child fails to thrive for a long time. Normal growth and development may continue if the child has failed to thrive for a short time, and the cause is determined and treated.
Diencephalic syndrome is a rare cause of failure to thrive associated with significant intracranial pathology.
Non-organic failure to thrive or psychosocial failure to thrive refers to failure to thrive in a child who is younger than 5 years age and has no known medical condition that causes poor growth. It is caused by emotional deprivation, child abuse. neglect or due to accident.
In some cases, a family may not have enough support or understanding of what a baby needs. Or they may not provide the right kinds or amounts of food. In severe cases, neglect or abuse may lead to FTT if food is kept from a baby on purpose.
Failure to thrive is not a single disease or medical condition; rather, it's a nonspecific manifestation of an underlying physical, mental, or psychosocial condition.
Children at high risk for nonorganic failure to thrive often come from families in which the mothers have experienced abuse and neglect in their childhood. These mothers often have difficulty relating to others, suffer from chronic depression, and feel overwhelmed and inadequate.
Stunted growth: what actually causes it? The most direct causes are inadequate nutrition (not eating enough or eating foods that lack growth-promoting nutrients) and recurrent infections or chronic or diseases which cause poor nutrient intake, absorption or utilization.
Characteristics of pediatric cystic fibrosis
Such blockage may result in what is called a “failure to thrive,” or poor weight gain. In the pancreas, mucus can result in poor food and nutrient absorption, and again, a failure to thrive, while in the liver, it can block the bile duct.
Primary care physicians can effectively treat most children with FTT, and subspecialist consultation or hospitalization is rarely indicated. Failure to thrive (FTT) is an abnormal pattern of weight gain defined by the lack of sufficient usable nutrition and documented by inadequate weight gain over time.
Loss of mobility or function in the hands. Distinctive hand movements. Slowed brain and head growth. Problems with walking, walking on the toes, or a wide-based gait.
Failure to thrive is diagnosed in about 10% of children in the U.S. Most children spend the first few years of their lives growing steadily and putting on weight. Healthy babies typically gain 5 to 7 ounces a week for the first six months and 3 to 5 ounces a week from 6 to 12 months.
Failure to thrive may be caused by medical problems or factors in the child's environment, such as abuse or neglect. There are many medical causes of failure to thrive. These include: Problems with genes, such as Down syndrome.