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Failure to Thrive (Weight Faltering), Pediatric

Tanya Hinds, MD, FAAP and Allison M. Jackson, MD, MPH Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Failure to thrive (FTT) or weight faltering describes a pattern of growth that is below established standards for age and gender. Anthropometric FTT is defined as any one of the foll...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Responses to questions about the following can help guide evaluation: 
  • Prenatal

    • Multiple miscarriages (suggesting a genetic disorder)

    • Maternal health and/or medical diagnoses

    • Tobacco, alc...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Medications that stimulate appetite and growth hormone therapy have not been extensively studied in FTT.

  • Nutritional supplements and calorie-dense foods help promote catch-up growth...

ONGOING CARE

  • Monitoring should continue until weight for height deficit is repaired and child no longer needs a specialized diet to maintain normal growth.

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Preventio...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Mash C, Frazier T, Nowacki A, et al. Development of a risk-stratification tool for medical child abuse in failure to thrive. Pediatrics.  2011;128(6):e1467–e1473. [View Abstrac...

CODES

ICD9

  • 779.34 Failure to thrive in newborn

  • 783.21 Loss of weight

  • 783.3 Feeding difficulties and mismanagement

  • 783.41 Failure to thrive

ICD10

  • P92.6 Failure to thrive in newborn

  • R63.4 Abnormal weight loss

  • R...

FAQ

  • Q: How should weight gain while hospitalized be interpreted?

  • A: Children with and without medical illnesses will grow with sufficient caloric intake. Growth during hospitalization is not diagnostic...

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