Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Growth Issues
Number of Conditions: 2
Failure to Thrive
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Growth and Development Disorders
Sub-category: Growth Issues
Symptoms:
poor weight gain; growth faltering; delayed milestones; fatigue; irritability; loss of subcutaneous fat; muscle wasting
Root Cause:
Inadequate caloric intake, absorption issues (e.g., celiac disease), increased metabolic needs (e.g., congenital heart disease), or neglect.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Detailed history, physical examination, growth chart assessment, nutritional evaluation, and sometimes lab tests or imaging studies.
Treatment:
Addressing the underlying cause, optimizing nutrition, and providing psychosocial support. A multidisciplinary team approach is often required.
Medications:
Medications depend on the underlying cause. For example, if malabsorption is due to celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is prescribed. Iron supplements may be recommended for iron-deficiency anemia.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Varies based on region and socioeconomic factors; affects up to 5% of children in some populations.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Premature birth, low socioeconomic status, chronic illnesses, feeding difficulties, neglect, or abuse.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely identification and intervention; however, untreated cases may result in long-term developmental and physical delays.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Developmental delays, weakened immunity, stunted growth, and behavioral problems.
Short Stature
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Growth and Development Disorders
Sub-category: Growth Issues
Symptoms:
height below the 3rd percentile for age and sex; slower growth velocity; delayed puberty in some cases; associated syndromic features (if genetic)
Root Cause:
Genetic factors (e.g., familial short stature), endocrine disorders (e.g., growth hormone deficiency), chronic illnesses, or constitutional growth delay.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Growth chart analysis, bone age assessment (X-ray), blood tests (e.g., thyroid function, growth hormone levels), and genetic testing in some cases.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the cause; growth hormone therapy for growth hormone deficiency, thyroid hormone replacement for hypothyroidism, or management of underlying chronic conditions.
Medications:
Growth hormone injections (e.g., somatropin ), if indicated for growth hormone deficiency. These are classified as hormone replacement therapies.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 3% of children; true pathological causes are less common.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, chronic illnesses (e.g., kidney disease), malnutrition, genetic syndromes (e.g., Turner syndrome).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable with appropriate diagnosis and treatment; untreated cases may lead to permanent short stature.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Psychological impact, reduced self-esteem, delayed puberty, or underlying complications of the primary cause.