Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Failure to Thrive, Pediatric
What are the causes?
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A chronic medical condition.
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Chromosome and genetic disorders.
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Allergies.
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Food insecurity.
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An inability to suck, eat, or swallow.
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Neglect.
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Restrictive diets.
What are the signs or symptoms?
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An abnormal growth pattern.
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Being underweight.
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Low height-for-age.
How is this diagnosed?
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Ask you about your child’s dietary patterns, food and drink preferences, and frequency of feeding or meal times.
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Do a physical exam of your child.
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Do certain tests. These may include:
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Blood tests.
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Urine tests.
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X-rays.
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Psychological tests.
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How is this treated?
Treatment for this condition depends on what is causing your child’s failure to thrive. It may include medical, physical, or psychological treatment. The earlier the evaluation and diagnosis are made, the more effective the treatment will be.
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Determining nutrition requirements for adequate growth and weight gain.
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Providing high calorie or high protein foods or beverages.
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Adding food additives to feedings or meal times to increase the calorie or protein content.
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Providing supplemental nutrition through a tube or intravenous fluids.
Follow these instructions at home:
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Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
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If told by your child’s health care provider, work with a dietitianto evaluate your child’s food needs.
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Keep a log or diary of your child’s eating and drinking habits. Write down what he or she eats and drinks each day.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
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You child loses weight.
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Your child will not eat or has difficulty eating.
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Your child is not growing.
Get help right away if:
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Your child who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
Summary
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Failure to thrive is when your child is not growing as expected for his or her age.
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Treatment for this condition depends on what is causing your child’s failure to thrive.
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If told by your child’s health care provider, work with a dietitianto evaluate your child’s food needs.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is very important.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
