ASHLEY HAUSMANN

FAILURE TO THRIVE
Failure to thrive is when a child’s body weight drops below the fifth percentile. A
typically developing child will double their birthweight by 4 month and triple it by
12 month. A child with Failure to Thrive (FTT) will have difficulties gaining and
maintaining weight. FTT, or Growth Failure, became a major concern in the last
half of the 20th century. FTT can be organic or nonorganic meaning there is an
underlying health concern causing the problem (organic) or the environment is
insufficient; lack of food or uneducated parents (nonorganic.)
Symptoms: irritability, weight loss, not reaching developmental milestones such as
sitting up and walking, avoiding eye contact, insufficient weight gain, excessive
sleepiness, learning and behavior difficulties later in life, and unequal growth in
height as same aged peers. Mild onset of FTT can be a child that is underweight
and having difficulties gaining weight; severe forms of FTT can involve
hospitalization and even death.
All children need to be seen by their Primary Care Physician (PCP) regularly for
routine check-ups. A PCP can diagnose a child with FTT and start to problem solve.
FTT can occur at any age but is most common with infants.
Causes for FTT can include but are not limited to; not being fed enough, not eating
enough, not eating the right kinds of foods, repeated vomiting, inability to absorb
enough calories, and medical conditions causing a child to need more calories.
Long Term Effects include being smaller physically, having lower cognitive scores,
poorer overall academic performance and possible permanent mental, emotional,
or physical delays.
Treatment: FTT can be fixed by increasing a child’s calorie intake and providing
more food. However, if the cause is a medical condition a doctor will need to be
consulted and a plan can be created. The cause must first be identified before it
can be fixed. Educational classes and assistance can also be possible solutions to a
child with FTT. Approximately 80% of FTT cases are nonorganic.

Additional information regarding Failure to Thrive can be found by accessing kidshealth.org and
aafp.org/failuretothrive or by talking with your child’s primary care physician