28. Causes and differential diagnosis of failure to thrive.

Page created on February 20, 2022. Not updated since.

Introduction

Failure to thrive, also known as faltering growth, refers to the situation where there is sub-optimal weight gain or rate of weight gain in young children over time. See also topic B7 from paeds 1.

Causes

Etiology Examples
Inadequate intake Inadequate feeding (food unavailability, poor feeding routines, insufficient breast milk, incorrect preparation of formula)
Psychosocial deprivation (parental mental health disorder, poor parental-infant interaction)
Neglect or child abuse
Inadequate retention (chronic vomiting) GERD
Food allergy
Increased requirements Congenital heart disease
Cystic fibrosis
Malignancy
Malabsorption Coeliac disease
Cystic fibrosis
Food allergy
Crohn disease
Failure to utilise nutrients Genetic/chromosomal disorders
Intrauterine growth restriction
Congenital infection
Hypothyroidism
Metabolic disorders

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