Team management of failure to thrive

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Child Development

Background:

• Failure to thrive (FTT) in infancy and early childhood is a complex syndrome.
• FTT necessitates consideration of interconnected nutritional, medical, and psychosocial factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a multidisciplinary team approach for managing failure to thrive.
• To detail the role of the registered dietitian within this integrated team.

Main Methods:

• Integrated evaluation by a team including physicians, nurses, social workers, and registered dietitians.
• Assessment of nutrition history, feeding patterns, medical status, social situation, development, and child-interactional qualities.
• Provision of individualized nutrition instruction and ongoing monitoring of anthropometric measurements for catch-up growth.

Main Results:

• The team approach allows simultaneous consideration of all risk factors.
• Nutritional management focuses on adequate energy and protein for catch-up growth.
• Individualized nutrition instruction and long-term follow-up are crucial for adaptation to changing needs.

Conclusions:

• A multidisciplinary team approach provides comprehensive care for failure to thrive.
• Registered dietitians play a vital role in nutritional assessment and intervention.
• Long-term, coordinated follow-up ensures sustained positive outcomes for children with FTT.