Failure to thrive is when a child does not meet expected growth standards. It can be caused by medical conditions or social, economic, or psychological problems. Treatment depends on the cause, and early intervention is key to preventing long-term effects. Education for parents is also important in prevention.
Failure to thrive is a descriptive term applied to infants or children who do not meet the expected growth standard for their age. These children most likely weigh less than other children in the same age group and are generally not growing at the normal rate. Organic growth failure means that the failure to thrive results from a medical condition, such as heart or blood disease in the baby, or due to complications during the mother’s pregnancy. Nonorganic growth failure means that doctors cannot find a physiological reason for the baby’s stunted growth. Often, it’s a combination of both organic and non-organic elements that lead to the problem.
Symptoms that often appear alongside lack of weight gain in children who fail to thrive can include excessive fatigue, along with delays in motor, social, and vocal skills. Doctors diagnose growth failure syndrome by using growth charts to compare a child’s weight, height, and head circumference with other children of the same age, race, and gender. Several countries follow growth charts based on the average growth rate of their population; for example, a Chinese doctor’s growth chart most likely follows a different pattern of averages than a German doctor’s growth chart. In addition, doctors typically do several laboratory tests to determine what may be causing the child’s developmental delay.
The reasons children fail to thrive vary widely. Organic causes may include gastrointestinal problems, complications during the mother’s pregnancy, or infections. Additionally, heart, metabolic, or blood disorders can cause stunted growth. Sometimes something as common as reflux or a food allergy leads to a child not eating enough. Nonorganic causes may include social, economic, or psychological problems occurring in the child’s life. For example, in a case of child abandonment, the child may not get proper nutrition or form bonds with caregivers, both of which can lead to overall growth retardations.
Treatment after a diagnosis of growth failure depends on what’s causing the condition. Sometimes caregivers simply need to be educated on how to provide proper nutrition to a newborn. In other cases, doctors may recommend high-calorie supplements to stimulate the baby’s growth or, in severe cases, a feeding tube may be inserted into the baby’s stomach to provide liquid nourishment. Often an entire medical team works to help the child overcome the problem. For example, a specialist may be called in to help with a child’s feeding issues along with a nutritionist to help parents plan a diet for a child who has food allergies. If the cause is psychosocial, an improvement in the child’s living conditions will usually be necessary and social workers may also be involved.
If the period of stunted growth has been relatively short and the cause has been identified and corrected, the child’s development usually returns to normal. If the problem is long-lasting, however, there may be permanent physical, mental, or emotional delays that can lead to problems in adulthood.
Educating new parents about proper child care and nutrition helps prevent the occurrence of stunted growth syndrome. Furthermore, early diagnosis and intervention, along with adequate child medical care, are key elements in getting the child back on the right growth path.
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