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Failure to Thrive

Durr-e-Shahwaar Sayed, DO Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Failure to thrive (FTT) is not a diagnosis but a sign of inadequate nutrition in young children manifested by a failure of physical growth, usually affecting weight. In severe cases,...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Successful treatment of FTT is almost always accomplished by a careful and detailed history because most cases are due to underfeeding or inappropriate feeding.

  • Prenatal and developmen...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Caregiver and infant interaction should be evaluated in infants and children with FTT.

  • Age-appropriate nutritional counseling should be provided.

    • The goal is to improve nutriti...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Close (every 2 to 4 weeks at first, and then 1 to 2 months if good progress), long-term follow-up with frequent visits.

  • Children with history of FTT are at increas...

REFERENCES

1
Black  MM, Tilton  N, Bento  S, et al. Recovery in young children with weight faltering: child and household risk factors. J Pediatr.  2016;170:301–306. [View ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Homan  GJ. Failure to thrive: a practical guide. Am Fam Physician.  2016;94(4):295–299.

  • Tang MN, et al. Failure to thrive or growth falter...

CODES

ICD10

  • R62.7 Adult failure to thrive

  • R62.51 Failure to thrive (child)

  • P92.6 Failure to thrive in newborn

SNOMED

  • 248279007 Frailty

  • 21134002 Disability

  • 54840006 Failure to thrive

  • 129588001 Adult failure to...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • FTT is a sign of inadequate nutrition. It is rarely due to a medical condition.

  • Underlying medical and/or social issues are generally suggested by history and physical exam, and extensi...

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