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Failure to thrive syndrome in Child
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Failure to thrive syndrome in Child

Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

In infants, failure to grow according to health standard norms for linear growth, weight, and head circumference. Also called weight faltering, signs include poor feeding, poor sucking, and weak cry. Causes include swallowing difficulty, anorexia, neuromuscular dysfunction, cleft palate, parental neglect, malnutrition, malabsorption, gastrointestinal abnormality, infection, parasite, or genetic or systemic illness causing impaired nutritional intake and abnormally slow growth, or lack of growth.

An infant with failure to thrive syndrome may face severe malnutrition, dehydration, and permanent damage to brain, central nervous system, and organs, constituting a medical emergency.

If untreated, prognosis may be poor. Management involves identifying and treating the underlying causes, and symptomatic interventions.

Codes

ICD10CM:
R62.51 – Failure to thrive (child)

SNOMEDCT:
54840006 – Failure to thrive

Best Tests

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Last Updated:03/17/2024
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Failure to thrive syndrome in Child
A medical illustration showing key findings of Failure to thrive syndrome
Clinical image of Failure to thrive syndrome - imageId=2951580. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'Underweight child secondary to neglect.'
Underweight child secondary to neglect.
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