Infants or children that fail to thrive seem to be dramatically smaller or shorter than other children the same age. Teenagers may have short stature or appear to lack the usual changes that occur at puberty. However, there is a wide variation in normal growth and development. In general, the rate of change in weight and height may be more important than the actual measurements. It is important to determine whether failure to thrive results from medical problems or factors in the environment, such as abuse or neglect. There are multiple medical causes of failure to thrive. These include: Other factors that may lead to failure to thrive: - Emotional deprivation as a result of parental withdrawal, rejection, or hostility
- Economic problems that affect nutrition, living conditions, and parental attitudes
- Exposure to infections, parasites, or toxins
- Poor eating habits, such as eating in front of the television and not having formal meal times
Many times the cause cannot be determined. |