When a baby or young child appears to have difficulty putting on or maintaining adequate weight, he or she may be diagnosed as failure to thrive. Weight and height may vary drastically from one child to another. Some babies are heavier set, while others may be more petite. Even so, babies and young children are expected to gain weight over time, but some babies fail to do so. Although the diagnosis is alarming, and one that warrants concern, it may not be as cut and dry as it sounds.
What is failure to thrive?
Although failure to thrive is a specific diagnosis, it is not one with exact and precise causes and symptoms behind it. Failure to thrive is best thought of as a descriptor of symptoms, rather than a condition in and of itself. The reason behind this, is that failure to thrive may be caused by a large variety of issues and underlying conditions. Regardless of the cause of failure to thrive, children who suffer from it are unable to take in, store or process the calories and nutrients they need in order to thrive and grow.
What causes failure to thrive?
There are numerous reasons a child may be diagnosed as failure to thrive, however, there are some conditions and issues that are more likely to cause a child to be labeled as failure to thrive. Chromosomal problems, organ problems, thryroid abnormalities, damage to the brain or central nervous system, cardiopulmonary concerns, anemia, gastrointestinal issues, metabolic disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), cerebral palsy, chronic infections, low birth weight, emotional neglect, parasites, and poor eating habits can all contribute to failure to thrive.
How is failure to thrive diagnosed?
When a baby fails to double their birth weight by four months of age, or quadruple their birth weight by age one, parents and medical caregivers may become concerned. Additionally, if a child appears to be losing weight, caregivers may become concerned. At this point, a child’s physician may order testing to determine if their is an underlying cause for the inability to gain or maintain an adequate weight for their age. Tests that may be performed include a CBC blood panel, xrays to determine bone age, glucose testing, and a basic metabolic screening to determine if the child may be having trouble absorbing nutrition.
How is failure to thrive treated?
The treatment of failure to thrive varies from child to child, as treatment of failure to thrive often depends on the underlying cause of the disorder. Nearly every child who is diagnosed as failure to thrive will require close and careful monitoring by their parents and caregivers, as well as possibly dietary and nutritional changes.