Failure to Thrive

What is Failure to Thrive

Failure to thrive is a group of problems. These problems include eating too little and losing weight.

People who have this condition may do fewer and fewer activities over time. They may lose interest in being with friends or they may not want to eat or drink.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take medicines only as told by your doctor.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Make sure that you eat enough.
• Be active. Do strength training. A physical therapist can help to set up an exercise program that fits you.
• Make sure that you are safe at home.
• Make sure that you have a plan for what to do if you cannot make decisions for yourself.

Contact a doctor if:

• You are not able to eat well.
• You are not able to move around.
• You feel very sad.
• You feel very hopeless.

Get help right away if:

• You think about ending your life.
• You cannot eat or drink.
• You do not get out of bed.
• Staying at home is not safe.
• You have a fever.

Failure to Thrive in Children

Failure to thrive is when your child is not growing or developing as expected for his or her age. This includes mental, physical, and emotional growth. It usually is noticed from infancy to the age of five.

What are the causes?

There are many possible causes for failure to thrive:

• Being born early (prematurely).
• Infection.
• Newborn illnesses.
• Endocrine gland disorders.
• Chromosome and genetic disorders.
• Allergies.
• Exposure to certain medicines before birth.
• Exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Inability to suck or swallow.
• Child abuse or neglect. This includes physical and emotional abuse.

Sometimes the cause is not known.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of failure to thrive include:

• Learning disabilities.
• Being underweight.

How is this diagnosed?

To diagnose failure to thrive, you child’s health care provider may:

• Ask you about the pregnancy and any problems that developed while your child was in the nursery.
• Ask you about your child’s feeding habits.
• Do a physical exam of your child.
• Do blood and urine tests on your child.
• Do a psychological exam of your child.
• Take X-rays of your child.

How is this treated?

The earlier the evaluation and diagnosis are made, the more effective the treatment will be. Treatment will depend on what is causing your child’s failure to thrive. This may include medical, physical, or psychological treatment.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your child’s health care provider. This is important.
• Give medicines only as directed by your child’s health care provider.
• Work with a nutritionist, if needed, to evaluate your child’s dietary needs.
• Keep a log or diary of your child’s eating habits.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your child loses weight.
• Your child will not eat or has difficulty eating.

Get help right away if:

Your child who is younger than 3 months old has a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher.