Failure to Thrive

What can causes failure to thrive?

failure to thrive or faltering growth (FTT) can be a result from many underlying problems, we have listed a few of the main ones here. This is were doctors and other medical professionals are highly skilled and trained to be able to get to the route of the problem.

The following are known as malabsorptive disorders, and the child or infant may seem to eat normally or even eat a lot but there body is unable to use the food intake adequately to be able to grow:

Gastro-oesophageal reflux; can cause FTT as the esophagus may become irritated and the child may refuse to eat due to associating eating with pain, or due to vomiting may be unable to hold in the nutrients and calories required to grow.

Chronic diarrhea: Again this can cause the child to be able to hold in the nutrients and calories required for the child to be able to grown and thrive.

Chronic liver disease & Cystic fibrosis: Are conditions were they are known to limit the body's ability to absorb nutrients and calories required to grow adequately.

Celiacs disease: Is were there is an intolerance to a protein called gluten, found in wheat and other grains. This causes the immune system to have an abnormal reaction which in turn cause damage to the lining of the intestine, which then interferes with the ability to absorb nutrients. Once gluten is removed from the diet the child should continue to grow and thrive normally.

Milk protein intolerance: Initially until an intolerance of milk protein is diagnosed, the body can have difficultly in absorbing nutrients. Once recognised and it is removed from the diet the child will continue the grow and thrive. It It is very occasionally this causes failure to thrive.

There are many other medical reasons why a child may have malobsorption difficulties these are just a select few.

Some other reasons could be due to illness or medical disorder especially if a child has trouble eating such as:

• cleft lip or palate.
• or due to prematurity.

In which case the infant may not take in enough calories to grow sufficiently.

Some conditions such as: Cardiac, endocrinologic, respiratory conditions can cause the child to require more calories so it becomes hard for the child to take in enough food to keep up.

Metabolic disorders: Can prohibit the body's capability to break down, process, or take energy from food. They could also cause build up of toxins with in the body during the proses of trying to break down the food which can make the child feel very ill.

Infections: Can put large energy demands on the body and this then requires the body to use more nutrients very rapidly. Also the child may feel unwell to eat and appetite may be impaired as well.

Home environment and social factors: It is also possible due to poverty that parents/carers are able to provide the necessary nutrients required for the child's growth. Also when doctors are unable to identify a medical problem, it may be due to the parent/carers causing the failure to thrive. This can be due to lack of knowledge or they may not be feeding the child enough, due to lack of interest or to many distractions at home.

In some cases medical professionals struggle to find the answer. Some children they are unable to give an answer as to why they struggle to thrive.

Written by Tracey (LWR manager)