Failure to Thrive

Question 1

What is failure to thrive?

Answer 1

Suboptimal weight gain in infants and young children

Weight loss corssing 2 centile lines or weight <0.4 centile

Question 2

What can cause failure to thrive?

Answer 2

Reduced intake

• inadequate food available
• neglect
• impaired suck/swallow
• chronic illness

Increased losses

• GORD
• infection

Malabsorption

• CMPA
• coeliac disease

Increased requirements
- chronic disease

Question 3

What investigation is done in failure to thrive?

Answer 3

Growth screen

Question 4

What makes up a growth screen?

Answer 4

Coeliac screen 
TFTs
Chromosomes
IGF-1
X-ray of left wrist - bone age

Question 5

What other investigations can be done for failure to thrive?

Answer 5

FBC
U&Es
Urine microscopy/culture
Stool microscopy/culture

Question 6

How can failure to thrive be managed?

Answer 6

Treat underlying cause

Dietician review