Failure to thrive is a term referring to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of other children of similar age and sex. Often, they are noticed as being dramatically smaller or shorter than other children.
Some of the causes, among others, may include:
* Chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome and Turner syndrome
* Defects in major organ systems
* Abnormalities of the endocrine system, such as thyroid hormone deficiency, growth hormone deficiency, or other hormone deficiencies
* Damage to the brain or central nervous system, which may cause feeding difficulties in an infant that result in delayed growth
* Abnormalities in the cardiac and respiratory systems, which can disrupt deliverly of oxygen and nutrients to the body
* Anemia or other blood disorders
* Abnormalities in the gastrointestinal system, which may result in malabsorption or absence of digestive enzymes, resulting in inadequate nutrition
* Some diseases, such as cerebral palsy, chronic gastroe/nteritis, and gastroesophageal reflux (usually temporary)
Causes may include underlying undiagnosed diseases, poverty, negative emotional environments, and crowded or unsanitary living conditions. Psychological and social causes may include emotional deprivation as a result of parental withdrawal, rejection, or hostility.
