[Non-organic failure to thrive: retrospective study in hospitalized children]

To evaluate incidence, clinical and laboratoristic values of patients with non organic failure to thrive (NOFTT), a retrospective study (January 1987-January 1991) among inpatient children of Department of Pediatrics of University of Padova was made. Thirty-six children (23 females and 13 males) aged 10 days to 22 months were selected. The incidence of NOFTT was 1.15% of total admission for the same age; it was more frequent in females than in males (F:M = 1.8:1) and it was more represented in children 0-3 months and 10-12 months aged. The main data have been: breast-feeding very frequent but early stopped (45% within the first month of life); administration of special formulas (soy milk, hydrolisate, hypoallergenic formulas) in 25% of cases. Specific symptoms in different ages: regurgitation, sucking problems and dysphagia more present in children less than 3 months, and inappetence and/or food refusal more represented in children more than 3 months. Ematologic and other lab values were totally normal.