Failure to Thrive: Who is at Risk, and How it is Treated

Failure to thrive (FTT) is used to describe young children or infants whose current weight or rate of weight gain is below that expected of similar children of the same age, sex, and ethnicity.
In most cases, FTT is insidious and gradual, and parents may not notice the undernutrition until it is bought to their attention.2 Healthcare professionals who work closely with the family and community are in the best position to detect the problem. This course provides an overview of failure to thrive, the various categories, risk factors, how it is diagnosed, and options for treatment.