J Korean Med Assoc.  2012 Aug;55(8):770-776. 10.5124/jkma.2012.55.8.770.

Clinical approaches to failure to thrive of infants and toddlers: a new paradigm

• Hwang JB

• KMID: 1435183
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2012.55.8.770

Abstract

Failure to thrive (FTT) is a term used to describe growth failure in infants and toddlers. The three categories of FTT are based on anthropometric measurements of weight, length, and head circumference for age. Type 1 FTT is the failure to gain weight due mainly to inadequate nutrition. Type 2 FTT is a clinical condition associated with short stature induced by endocrine or genetic factors. Type 3 FTT results from chromosome anomalies or central nervous system abnormalities. Pediatric endocrinologists may be involved in treating patients with short stature of type 2 FTT. Pediatric gastroenterologists may be interested in patients with malnutrition of type 1 FTT, and pediatric psychologists may play a major roll in treating those with non-organic FTT or feeding disorders. This review introduces a new paradigm of clinical approaches to FTT in infants and toddlers to emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary clinical approaches to FTT.

Keyword

Failure to thrive; Infant; Malnutrition; Short stature; Feeding and eating disorders in childhood

MeSH Terms

Central Nervous System
Failure to Thrive
Head
Humans
Infant
Malnutrition

Figure

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  Figure 1 Three anthropometric categories of failure to thrive using circum, circumference (From Hwang JB. Korean J Pediatr 2004;47:355-361, according to the Creative Commons License) [1].

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  Figure 2 Major causes in three categories of failure to thrive. GH, growth hormone; IUGR, intrauterine growth retar dation; CNS, central nervous system disease (From Hwang JB. Korean J Pediatr 2004;47:355-361, according to the Creative Commons License) [1].

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