Failure to thrive

approach to failure to thrive in pediatrics

1. FAILURE TO THRIVE
Dr Kaushik Barot
Assistant Professor ,Pediatrics

5. DESCRIPTION
Failure to thrive is
Sustained weight loss.
Failure to gain weight,
Persistent fall in weight from the child`s normal
centile.
This excludes Constitutionally light child Transient
weight loss Associated with acute illness
Thrive=grow well

6. DEFINITION
ATTAINED GROWTH
•Wtfor age < 3
rd
Centile
•Wtfor Ht< 5
th
Centile
•Wtfor Ht< 80 %
•Triceps skin fold thickness < 5 mm
RATE OF GROWTH
•< 20gms /day from 0-3 months
•<15gms / day from 3-6 months
•Fall of from a previously established growth curve
•Downward crossing of > 2 major percentiles on growth chart

7. INTRODUCTION
Loosely Applied
Descriptivethan Diagnostic
Process with result of malnutrition!
Usually, no apparent etiology

8. INTRODUCTION
Patho physiologically
Calorie Insufficiency
Growth Retardation
Risk Of
Physical Sequalae
Psychological Sequalae
Emotional Sequalae

10. PITFALLS
•Single observation –avoid
•Observe growth –over a period
•Value of growth charts
•Usually, children < 3 yrs
•Maximum up to 5 yrs
•Small size alone –not adequate
•Remember constitutional & genetic factors

11. DIFFERENTIATE FROM
•Wasting: Loss of muscle mass.
•Emaciation:-Excessive loss of body fat.
•Cachexia: Only skin & bones, commonly associated
with tuberculosis & malignancy. TNF (also called as
cachexin), Interferon gamma & interleukin 6 like
inflammatory cytokines appear to play a role for
cachexia.

12. ETIOLOGY –based on mechanism
1) INADEQUATE INTAKE
•No food
•Nutritional ignorance , Mechanical Problems
•Child neglect/abuse , Chromosomal
abnormalities.
•Systemic disease , Prenatal insult
2) CALORIE WASTING
•Vomiting ,Renal disorders,
•Diarrhea, Diabetes Mellitus
3) INCREASED REQUIREMENTS
•CHD , Hyperthyroidism ,
•Recurrent Infection, Chr. Resp.disorders
4) ALTERED GROWTH POTENTIAL
•Prenatal insult
•Chromosomal abnormality
•Endocrinopathies

13. ETIOLOGY -THEORETICAL
Organic (Biological)
•G.I.
•Renal
•Cardiopulmonary
•Endocrine
•CNS
•Infection
•Metabolic
Non-Organic
(Psychosocial 80%)
•Lack of BF
•Improper complimentary
Feeding Technique
•Neglect Regarding
Nutrition
•Ignorance
•Improper Child Rearing
•Maternal Deprivation
•Maternal Depression
•Crisis In The Family

14. BREAST
FEEDING
FAMILY
FOODS
Malnutrition
Pit

15. ETIOLOGY -THEORETICAL
Organic (Biological)
GASTROINTESTINAL
Gastrointestinal reflux
disease
Maldigestion
Malabsorption (e.g., Celiac
disease)
Bovine milk protein allergy
Hirschsprung's disease
Pyloric stenosis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Chronic cholestasis
NEUROLOGICAL
•Cerebral palsy
•Mental retardation
•Neurodegenerative
disorder
•Neuromuscular disorder
•CNS tumors
RENAL
•Renal tubular acidosis
•Chronic kidney disease

16. ETIOLOGY -THEORETICAL
Organic
INFECTIONS
Chronic parasitic infections
of GIT
Tuberculosis
HIV
Recurrent RespiTract inf.
Perinatal (TORCH)
MISCELLANEOUS
Lead poisoning
Malignancy
ENDOCRINAL
•Hypo/hyper
thyroidism
•Diabetes
•Growth hormone
deficiency
•Adrenal insufficiency

17. ETIOLOGY -THEORETICAL
Organic
CARDIOVASCULAR
•Congenital heart disease
•Cardiomyopathy
•CCF
•Vascular rings
GENETICS
•IEM
•Chromosomal anomalies
RESPIRATORY
•Recurrent RTI
•Cystic fibrosis
•Hyperactive airway disease
•Interstitial lung disease
•Bronchiectasis
•Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
•Chronic respiratory failure
•Tonsillar /Adenoid hypertrophy

18. HISTORY -FTT
•Routine –antenatal, natal, perinatal
•Pregnancy –planned or unplanned
•Was it a preterm delivery ?
•IUGR –worse prognosis
•History of TORCH
•Dietetic history –detailed
•Social & family history

19. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION –ORGANIC FTT
•Thorough general & systemic examination
•Assessment of nutrition
•Marasmus
•Kwashiorkor
•Vitamin deficiencies
•Nutritional Anthropometry
Weight , Height , Head Circumference
Skin fold thickness , Mid arm Circumference
Neuro developmental assessment

20. Red Flag Signs and Symptoms Suggesting Medical
causes of Failure to Thrive
•Failure to gain weight despite adequate caloric intake
•Recurrent vomiting, diarrhea or dehydration
•Recurrent or severe respiratory, mucocutaneous, or
urinary infection
•Cardiac findings suggesting congenital heart disease or
heart failure(e.g., murmur, edema, jugular, venous
distention)
•Developmental delay
•Dysmorphic features
•Organomegaly or lymphadenopathy

21. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION -NON-ORGANIC FTT
Specific Behavioral Pattern
•Decreased Vocalization
•Lack of cuddliness
•Head banging & rocking movements
•Rumination
Features of Child Neglect or abuse
•Unwashed skin
•Untreated Impetigo
•Uncut fingernails
•Flattened occiput & alopecia
•Torn Frenulum

22. LABORATORY AIDS TO DIAGNOSIS
•Indicated only in organic FTT
•Avoid unnecessary investigations
•Start with simple & noninvasive
•Proceed to complex & invasive

23. LABORATORY AIDS TO DIAGNOSIS
Initial Evaluation
•CBC & ESR
•Renal function tests & Serum electrolytes
•Liver function tests
•Complete Urine Analysis
•Stool Examination
•Mantoux Test ,CXR PA view
•X Rays –To Rule Out PC, Child Abuse , Bone Age
Estimation
•Celiac disease workup if suspected.

24. LABORATORY AIDS TO DIAGNOSIS
Definitive Tests
•Pattern I -No Further Test Except Maternal Psycho
Evaluation
•Pattern II -Evaluation of Malabsorption -Stool
Fat, Chymotrypsin, Sweat Chloride, Small Bowel
Biopsy , LFT
•Pattern III
A.With Vomiting -Electrolytes, pH, Glucose, BUN, Serum &
Urine Amino acids , Upper G.I. Contrast Studies
B. Without Vomiting -Barium Enema , TFT, IVP, Sigmoidoscopy

25. INDICATIONS FOR ADMISSION
•Weight for height less than 70 % of the median
•Detailed evaluation for suspected organic disorder
•Suspected child abuse or neglect
•Nonresponse to outpatient management

26. MANAGEMENT GOALS
•Nutritional rehabilitation
•Find and treat organic cause if any
•Address psychosocial and developmental issues

27. APPROACH TO A CHILD WITH FTT
NUTRITIONAL REHABILITATION –RESPONSE
PATTERN I -Intake adequate, Wt. gain satisfactory
-Feeding technique at fault
-Poverty & Ignorance
-Disturbed Infant Mother relationship

28. APPROACH TO A CHILD WITH FTT
NUTRITIONAL REHABILITATION –RESPONSE
PATERN II -Intake adequate , no
weight gain
Malabsorption -GIARDIASIS, C.F, LACT.
INTOL.
Renal -R.T.A. , D.I. , CRF
Diabetes Mellitus
Hyperthyroidism

29. APPROACH TO A CHILD WITH FTT
NUTRITIONAL REHABILITATION –RESPONSE
PATTERN III -Inadequate intake, No WtGain
–Difficulty in sucking & swallowing ( Mechanical or
Primary Neurological )
–Inability to take large quantities (Chr.Infection,
Cardio Pulm. disease )
–Vomiting ( GERD, CHPS, Metabolic disorders,
Increased ICT, Adrenal Insufficiency )

30. EVALUATION OF FTT

31. PROGNOSIS
•FTT in first year of life regardless of etiology –
prognosis is ominous
•Maximal brain growth occurs during the first six to
twelve months of age .
•One third of children with Psychosocial FTT have
developmental delay, social & emotional problems
•Prognosis for organic FTT -variable -depends on
the etiology

32. Thank You