Failure to thrive
Failure to thrive (FTT) refers to a child whose physical growth is substantially below the norm.
Also called: Undergrowth, FTT, Faltering weight, Postnatal failure to thrive, Weight faltering, Poor weight gain.
Conditions associated with failure to thrive
The following conditions have been associated with failure to thrive in medical literature. This is informational and not a diagnosis.
1p36 deletion syndrome
1p36 deletion syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
22q11.2 deletion syndrome
22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase 1 deficiency
Any 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the MCCC1 g...
3-methylglutaconic aciduria type 8
3-methylglutaconic aciduria type 8 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and sig...
3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase deficiency, infantile/juvenile form
3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase deficiency, infantile/juvenile form is a medical condition that may be associ...
Abetalipoproteinemia
Abetalipoproteinemia is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Acute adrenal insufficiency
Acute adrenal insufficiency is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Addison disease
Addison disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome 9
A type I interferonopathy characterized by severe developmental delay and progressive neurologic deterioration...
Alacrimia-choreoathetosis-liver dysfunction syndrome
Alacrimia-choreoathetosis-liver dysfunction syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with variou...
Alexander disease
Alexander disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Alobar holoprosencephaly
Alobar holoprosencephaly is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
Alternating hemiplegia of childhood is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and si...
Arginine vasopressin deficiency
Arginine vasopressin deficiency is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency
Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency is a medical condition that may be associated with various symp...
Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia
Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a medical condition that may be associated with var...
Autosomal recessive generalized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, intermediate form
Autosomal recessive generalized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, intermediate form is a medical condition tha...
B-cell immunodeficiency, distal limb anomalies, and urogenital malformations
B-cell immunodeficiency, distal limb anomalies, and urogenital malformations is a medical condition that may b...
Bartter disease type 1
Bartter disease type 1 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Bartter disease type 2
Any Bartter syndrome in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the KCNJ1 gene....
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
CTCF-related neurodevelopmental disorder
A rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay, borderline to severe...
Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome 1
A rare condition characterized by the association of hypotonia, Moebius sequence (bilateral congenital facial ...
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4C
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4C is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and si...
Christianson syndrome
Christianson syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Cockayne syndrome type 1
Cockayne syndrome caused by mutation(s) in the ERCC8 gene, encoding DNA excision repair protein ERCC-8....
Cockayne syndrome type 1
Cockayne syndrome type 1 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Cockayne syndrome type 2
Cockayne syndrome caused by mutation(s) in the ERCC6 gene, encoding DNA excision repair protein ERCC-6....
Coenzyme Q10 deficiency, primary, 7
Coenzyme Q10 deficiency, primary, 7 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and si...
Coffin-Siris syndrome 12
Coffin-Siris syndrome 12 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Combined malonic and methylmalonic acidemia
Combined malonic and methylmalonic acidemia is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptom...
Congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy
Congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various sympto...
Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency
Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms a...
Congenital tracheomalacia
Congenital tracheomalacia is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Cutaneous mastocytosis-deafness-microtia syndrome
Cutaneous mastocytosis-deafness-microtia syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various s...
D-glyceric aciduria
A metabolic disorder characterized by D-glyceric acid excretion. It has been described in several patients. Cl...
DEGCAGS syndrome
DEGCAGS syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
DPAGT1-CDG
DPAGT1-CDG is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
DPM1-CDG
DPM1-CDG is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
DYRK1A-related intellectual disability syndrome
DYRK1A-related intellectual disability syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various sym...
Tests providers may use to investigate failure to thrive
When investigating failure to thrive, a healthcare provider may order one or more of the following laboratory tests. Test selection is a clinical decision made by a qualified professional.
CBC with Differential
Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to help evaluate overall health and detect disorder...
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Measures 14 substances in the blood to assess kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood sugar ...
Fasting Glucose
Measures blood sugar after fasting to screen for diabetes and prediabetes....
Lipid Panel
Measures cholesterol and triglycerides to assess cardiovascular risk....
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Screens for thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism....
Urinalysis
Examines urine content to help detect urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes....
Celiac Disease Panel
Screens for markers of celiac disease including tTG-IgA....
Liver Function Test
Measures ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, and albumin to assess liver health....
Symptoms commonly seen alongside failure to thrive
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing....
Fatigue
A subjective feeling of tiredness characterized by a lack of energy and motivation....
Fever
Body temperature elevated above the normal range....
Headache
Cephalgia, or pain sensed in various parts of the head, not confined to the area of distribution of any nerve....
Muscle weakness
Reduced strength of muscles....
Seizure
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence ...
When to seek care
Seek care from a qualified healthcare provider if failure to thrive is severe, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by concerning symptoms. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the symptom failure to thrive mean?
Failure to thrive is a health sign or symptom described in medical literature. Failure to thrive (FTT) refers to a child whose physical growth is substantially below the norm.
Which conditions are associated with failure to thrive?
Failure to thrive has been reported in association with 200 conditions in the medical literature we index, including 1p36 deletion syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase 1 deficiency, 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type 8, 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase deficiency, infantile/juvenile form. These associations do not mean you have any of these conditions.
Should I see a doctor about failure to thrive?
You should discuss any persistent or concerning symptoms with a qualified healthcare provider. This website does not provide diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or signs of a medical emergency, seek care immediately.