Delayed growth
Alternative names:
FTT, failure to thrive, growth, slow (child 0-5 yrs); weight
gain - slow (in a child 0 to 5 years); slow rate of growth;
retarded growth and development
Home care:
If a diagnosis has been made, follow your physicians instructions
for care. The treatment and home care is as varied as the
number of reasons for failure to thrive.
For slow weight gain in a child caused by inadequate nourishment,
try feeding the child on demand and increasing the sucking
time. Also, prepare formula exactly according to directions.
Do not dilute ready-to-feed formula, and try increasing the
amount offered to the child.
Provide as much love and support as possible for the child.
Examine feelings and behavior toward the child. If feelings
toward the child are not what they should be, arrange for
psychological counseling.
Call your health care provider if:
- there is vomiting
in an infant (0 to 6 months) after feedings or the weight
gain is slow.
- there is any concern about whether the child is growing
and gaining weight properly.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
A history will be obtained from the parents, and a physical
examination of the child will be performed.
Medical history questions documenting delayed growth in detail
may include:
- Has the child always been on the low end of the growth
charts?
- Was the child growing normally and then the growth slowed
down?
- Is the child developing normal social skills and physical
skills?
- Does the child eat well?
- Is the infant fed by breast or bottle?
- If breast fed, what kind of schedule is used?
- If bottle fed, what kind of schedule is used?
- If bottle fed, what kind of formula is used?
- How is the formula mixed?
- What kinds of food is the child eating (toddlers)?
- What medications does the child take?
- If breast feeding,
what medications does the mother take?
- What other symptoms are also present?
- There may also be questions about parenting habits, social
interaction with the child, and similar questions.
Repeated measurements of height, weight, and head
circumference will be performed.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
The number of possible studies for failure to thrive is large
but usually only a few are necessary. The studies ultimately
done will be determined by the diagnosis the physician is
considering. Some of the more common tests are listed below.
- blood tests (such as a CBC
or blood differential)
- hormone studies
- stool studies (to check for malabsorption)
- X-rays to determine bone age (X-rays
of the hands and wrists as a measure of growth)
- X-rays of the long bones to look for new or old fractures
After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the
cause of your child's slow growth, you may want to note that
diagnosis in your personal medical record. You may also want
to keep your own record of measurements of height, weight,
and head circumference.
Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director,
Utah Health Informatics and adam.com
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