CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Most kids steadily gain weight and grow quickly within the first few years of life.
But in some cases, kids don't meet these expected standards of growth. When this
happens, it's called "failure to thrive."

Doctors say children "fail to thrive" when they don't gain weight as expected. Often,
these kids also have poor linear (height) growth.

Many things can cause failure to thrive, including illnesses and eating problems.
Once doctors find the cause of the problem, they can work with families to help get
a child back into a healthy growth pattern.

1.2 Formulation of the Problem

1. What is definition about failure to thrive ?

2. How causes of the failure to thrive ?
3. How diagnosis failure to thrive?
4. How treatment of the failure to thrive ?
5. What do you do if you have a child havefailure to thrive?

1.3 The Purpose of the Problem

1. To know definition about failure to thrive.
2. To know causes of the failure to thrive.
3. To know diagnosis failure to thrive.

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4. To know treatment of the failure to thrive.
5. To know handlingof the failure to thrive.

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 CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

2.1 Definition

Most kids steadily gain weight and grow quickly within the first few years of life.
But in some cases, kids don't meet these expected standards of growth. When this
happens, it's called "failure to thrive."Doctors say children "fail to thrive" when they don't
gain weight as expected. Often, these kids also have poor linear (height) growth.Many
things can cause failure to thrive, including illnesses and eating problems. Once doctors
find the cause of the problem, they can work with families to help get a child back into a
healthy growth pattern.

Although it's been recognized for more than a century, failure to thrive lacks a clear
definition, in part because it's not a disease or disorder itself. Rather, it's a sign that a
child is undernourished. In general, kids who fail to thrive don't receive or cannot take in,
keep, or use the calories that would help them grow and gain enough weight.

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 Although it's been recognized for more than a century, failure to thrive lacks a clear
definition, in part because it's not a disease or disorder itself. Rather, it's a sign that a
child is undernourished. In general, kids who fail to thrive don't receive or cannot take in,
keep, or use the calories that would help them grow and gain enough weight.

Doctors usually diagnose the condition in infants and toddlers an important

time of physical and mental development. After birth, a child's brain grows as much in
the first year as it will grow for the rest of a child's life. Poor nutrition during this period
may have lasting harmful effects on brain development.

Most babies double their birth weight by 4 months and triple it by age 1, but kids
who fail to thrive usually don't meet those milestones. Sometimes, a child who starts out
"plump" and seems to be growing well may gain less weight later. After a while, height
growth may slow as well.

If the condition continues, undernourished kids might:

Lose interest in their surroundings

Avoid eye contact

Become fussy

Not reach developmental milestones like sitting up, walking, and talking at the usual
age

2.2 Causes

A number of things can cause failure to thrive, including:

Not enough food offered. In some cases, parents mistakenly cause the problem.
Sometimes a parent measures formula incorrectly, causing an infant to get too few
calories. Problems with breastfeeding or transitioning to solids also can cause failure
to thrive. Parents who worry their child will get fat may restrict the amount of

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 calories they give their infants. And sometimes parents don't pay enough attention to
their children's hunger cues or can't afford enough food for their children.
The child eats too little. Some children have trouble eating enough food because of
prematurity, developmental delays, or conditions like autism in which they do not
like eating foods of certain textures or tastes.
Health problems involving the digestive system. Several health conditions can
prevent a child from gaining weight. These include gastroesophageal reflux (GER),
chronic diarrhea, cystic fibrosis, chronic liver disease, and celiac disease.
With reflux, the esophagus may become so irritated that a child refuses to eat
because it hurts. Persistent diarrhea can make it hard for the body to hold on to the
nutrients and calories from food. Cystic fibrosis, chronic liver disease, and celiac
disease all cause problems with the body's ability to absorb nutrients. The child may
eat a lot, but the body doesn't absorb and retain enough of that food. Kids with celiac
disease are allergic to gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains. The immune
system's abnormal response to this protein damages the lining of the intestine so it
can't absorb nutrients properly.
Food intolerance.A food intolerance, which is different from a food allergy, means
the body is sensitive to certain foods. For example, milk protein intolerance means
the body can't absorb foods that have milk proteins, such as yogurt and cheese, which
could lead to failure to thrive.
An ongoing illness or disorder.A child who has trouble eating because of prematurity
or a cleft lip or palate, for example may not take in enough calories to support normal
growth. Other conditions involving the heart, lungs, or endocrine system can increase
the amount of calories a child needs and make it hard for the child to eat enough to
keep up.
Infections. Parasites, urinary tract infections (UTIs), tuberculosis, and other
infections can force the body to use nutrients rapidly and decrease appetite. This can
lead to short or longterm failure to thrive.
Metabolic disorders. Metabolic disorders are health conditions that make it hard for
the body to break down, process, or take energy from food. They also can cause a
child to eat poorly or vomit.

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 Sometimes a mix of medical problems and environmental factors leads to failure to
thrive. For instance, if a baby has severe GER and is reluctant to eat, feeding times can
be stressful. The baby may become upset and frustrated, and the caregiver might be
unable to feed the child enough food.Other times, doctors aren't sure exactly what causes
the problem.

2.3 Diagnosis

Many babies go through brief periods when their weight gain levels out, or they even
lose a little weight. This is not unusual. However, if a baby doesn't gain weight for 3
months in a row during the first year of life, doctors usually become concerned.

Doctors use standard growth chartsto plot weight, length, and head circumference,
which are measured at each well-child exam. Children may have failure to thrive if they
fall below a certain weight range for their age or fail to gain weight at the expected rate.

To see if there's a problem, doctors will ask for a child's detailed health history,
including a feeding history. This helps doctors see whether underfeeding, household
stresses, or feeding problems might be to blame. A nutritionist or other health care
professional also may track the calories in a child's diet to make sure the child is
getting enough.

Doctors might order tests (such as a complete blood count or urine test) to check for
underlying medical problems. If a particular disease or disorder is suspected, the doctor
might order other tests to check for that condition.

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2.4 Treatment

Treatment for kids who fail to thrive involves making sure that the child gets the
calories needed to grow and addressing any underlying feeding issues. This often requires
the help of a care team that may include:

The primary care doctor or pediatrician

Aregistered dietitian to evaluate the child's dietary needs

Occupational therapists to help caregivers and the child develop successful feeding
behaviors

Speech therapists to address any sucking or swallowing problems

Asocial worker if a family has trouble getting enough food for the child

Psychologists and other mental health professionals if there are any behavioral issues

Specialists (such as a cardiologist, neurologist, or gastroenterologist) to treat

underlying health conditions

Usually, kids who have failure to thrive can be treated at home along with regular
doctor visits. The doctor will recommend high-calorie foods and may place an infant on
a high-calorie formula. Depending on the child's feeding habits, doctors may recommend
offering foods of certain textures, spacing out meals to make sure children are hungry,
avoiding "empty" calories like juices and candies, and other strategies depending on the
child's condition and family situation.

In cases of severe failure to thrive, a child who is not growing with initial treatment
may need tube feedings. In tube feedings, a tube is put in that runs from the nose into the
stomach. Liquid nutrition is provided at a steady rate through the tube and is usually
given at nighttime only. The child can continue with daily activities and eat freely during
the day. Once he or she starts getting more calories, the child will feel better and will
probably start to eat more on his or her own. At that point, the tube can be removed.

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 Children with extreme failure to thrive might need to be treated in a hospital. There,
they will be fed and monitored around the clock for 10 to 14 days (or longer), until they
gain some weight. After that, it still can take months until the symptoms of severe
malnutrition are gone.

How long treatment lasts can vary. Weight gain takes time, so it might be several
months before a child is back in the normal range. When the condition is due to a chronic
illness or disorder, kids may have to be monitored regularly at their doctor's office. In
those cases, treatment may take even longer, perhaps for a lifetime.

2.5 If Your Child Have Failure to Thrive

If you're worried that your child is failing to thrive, remember that many things can
cause slower weight gain. For instance, breastfed babies and bottle-fed babies often gain
weight at different rates in the early newborn period.

Genetics also play a big role in weight gain. So if a baby's parents are slim, the baby
may not put on pounds quickly. However, infants should still gain weight steadily. As a
general guideline, babies usually eat often in a 24-hour period and should gain about 1
ounce a day in the first month of life. It can be hard to judge this from home (even if you
have a scale), so it's important to see your child's doctor regularly. Doctors can check for
problems at regular well-child checkups, so it's important to keep these appointments.

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When to Call the Doctor

If you notice a drop in weight gain or your baby doesn't seem to have a normal
appetite, call your doctor. Also call about any major change in eating patterns. Toddlers
and older kids may have days and sometimes weeks when they show little interest in
eating, but that shouldn't happen in infants.

If you have trouble feeding your baby, your doctor can help. When a child doesn't
readily eat, parents can become frustrated and feel they're doing something wrong. That
can make the problem worse, causing stress for you and your baby. Instead, get help for
both of you by talking to your doctor.

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 CHAPTER III
CLOSING

3.1 Conclusion
- The diagnosis of failure to thrive (FTT) requires a careful assessment of growth
parameters (weight, length/height, and head circumference) over time.
- The condition requires a comprehensive evaluation as both medical and psychosocial
problems may contribute.
- Extensive medical tests are, however, generally not indicated, unless suggested by the
history or exam.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration is ideal in evaluation and treatment.
- Hospitalization should be reserved for severe or recalcitrant cases.
- The presence of an organic etiology does not rule out the possibility of psychosocial
contributing factors.
- Can occur at all socioeconomic levels. Although occurrence may be highest among
children from low income families, recent evidence from the UK reported no
association between socioeconomic status and growth at age 12 months.
Although definitions of FTT vary, most authorities agree that only by comparing
height and weight on a growth chart over time can FTT be assessed accurately.
Laboratory evaluation should be guided by history and physical examination findings
only. The management of FTT should begin with a careful search for its aetiology.
Nutritional intervention using calorie-dense diet is the cornerstone of treatment of
FTT, regardless of aetiology. Social issues of the family and associated medical
problems most be addressed. A careful and timely search for cause of FTT and
aggressive caloric supplementation are important in obtaining the best possible
outcome in children with FTT.

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Anonym.2016. Failure To Thrive. http://us.bestpractice.bmj.com/best-

practice/monograph/747.html . Online 4 August 22.49 pm

Anonym.2017.Failure To Thrive. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/failure-thrive.html#. Online 4

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