Failure to Thrive (FTT) describes an infant or child who does not gain weight at the expected rate. 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.
Economic problems that affect nutrition, living conditions and parental attitudes. Exposure to infections, parasites or toxins. Poor eating habits, such as eating in front of the television and not having formal meal times.
The reason for failure to thrive is inadequate nutrition. Previously, failure to thrive was categorized as either organic (underlying medical condition) or non-organic (no known medical condition).
Environmental factors can cause FTT, most commonly because the baby isn't being fed the right amount of food to fuel their growth. Some common environmental causes for FTT include: lack of opportunity — the baby is not offered regular, nutritious milk and/or food. family homelessness and/or poverty.
How Is FTT Treated? Treatment of failure to thrive depends upon the age of the child, the associated symptoms and the underlying reason for the poor growth. The overall goal of treatment is to provide adequate calories and any other support necessary to promote the growth of your child.
Nonorganic failure to thrive results from accidental, neglectful, or deliberate action on the caretaker's part. The majority of the nonorganic FTT cases are due to caretaker neglect.
These children may have more severe and prolonged 'catch-down' growth; they may grow along a low growth percentile curve, with a low preadolescent growth rate and delayed pubertal development. However, 'catch-up' growth occurs when they enter puberty.
Adult failure to thrive (AFTT) is a decline seen in older adults. Fortunately, AFTT is frequently reversible with medical intervention, which may prevent further deterioration, alleviate symptoms, and restore a person to health.
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.
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.
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.
A child is more at risk for FTT if he or she is in a family that has problems with poverty, high stress, or parental coping skills.
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.
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.
Problems with breastfeeding or transitioning to solids also can cause failure to thrive. The child eats too little. Some children have trouble eating enough food because of prematurity, developmental delays, or conditions like autism in which they do not like eating foods of certain textures or tastes.
Failure to thrive is usually diagnosed by a healthcare provider. Babies are weighed and measured by a healthcare provider during routine checkups. The provider will give your child a physical exam. The exam will include checking the baby's growth, development, and functioning.
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.
The following tests are recommended for an initial laboratory evaluation of failure to thrive: CBC and differential - chronic bleeding, iron deficiency anemia, lead toxicity, malignancy, and infection. Urinalysis, urine culture - kidney or bladder infection or renal disease.
Slow weight gain could be a problem if: your newborn doesn't regain their birth weight within 10 to 14 days after their birth. your baby up to 3 months old gains less than an ounce a day. your infant between 3 and 6 months gains less than 0.67 ounces a day.
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.
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.