Failure to Thrive

What Is Failure to thrive 

Due to unfortunate circumstances, some children are diagnosed with Failure to thrive during the development stages of a child's growth. Under this condition, the children usually have an abnormally low weight and body structure compared to other children of the same age. As a result, these kids may be unnaturally smaller or of short stature than expected.  

Children with Failure to thrive upon growing up do not have the same changes as other children upon hitting puberty. However, a wide variation can be expected in how normal growth is perceived.  

Symptoms in Children 

Infants who are either short, smaller or lower weight than normal babies. Their head circumference and other parameters do not meet the standard expected growth curve. 

Some common symptoms also include a delay in  

• Development of physical skills like crawling, walking or standing 
• Slow mental and social skills 

• Secondary sexual characteristics upon reaching adolescence.  

Causes 

Failure to thrive may occur due to a host of reasons, include 

• Digestive Problems  

Children detected with digestive issues or those that cannot uptake nutrition the same way suffer from it. This includes conditions such as GER, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease. Additionally, children suffering from metabolic disorders also could suffer from this condition. 

• Food Intolerances  

Children who suffer from food allergies or food intolerances are more prone to Failure to three. This includes lactose intolerance or sensitivity to seafood etc. 

• Caloric Deficit 

Due to poor caretaking or other reasons, some children face a caloric deficit. As a result, their food does not need the body's nutritional demands, resulting in a lack of growth. 

• Medical complications 

Children that suffer from a host of medical complications from birth, such as issues with the endocrine system or other disorders, could suffer from it. 

• Infection 

Chronic infections or prolonged infections during critical growth years can hamper the development of the body. 

When Must You Visit A Doctor? 

When parents notice that the child is not eating well, losing weight, is not showing signs of physical and mental development as per age criteria. 

Signs such as delayed physical activity, disturbed eating patterns, unable to eat are all circumstances under which a doctor's guidance is a must. 

If you notice any of the above symptoms, booking an online appointment with us is highly recommended. For more urgent appointments, you can also check with the admin assistant; just call us.  

It is also advised to get your child checked every year. Routine check-ups are a must to track growth & development for the overall well-being of the child.   

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