Failure to Thrive Definition and Diagnosis

Core Diagnostic Criteria

• Growth retardation without a known cause in infants and young children represents the clinical presentation, making it one of the leading developmental disorders and a common cause of pediatric hospitalization 1, 2

Clinical Context and Terminology

• The preferred updated terminology is "growth faltering," though this term can be ambiguous in populations where the clinical phenotype includes inherently low height growth (such as certain skeletal dysplasias) 3, 4

Important Diagnostic Considerations

• In specific populations (such as skeletal dysplasias), failure to thrive was often not clearly defined in studies, making comparisons difficult and emphasizing the need for clear definitions using appropriate growth standards 3, 4, 5

Associated Clinical Features

• Contributing factors may include feeding difficulties, swallowing dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux, and various medical conditions affecting multiple organ systems 6, 7