by Margrette Butler

Created on: April 16, 2009   Last Updated: April 17, 2009

For additional information regarding FTT or Failure to Thrive, and other diseases faced in infancy or childhood visit The MAGIC Foundation. www.magicfoundation.org or 1-800-3-MAGIC-3. This non-profit organization was created to provide support services for the families of children afflicted with a wide variety of chronic and/or critical disorders, syndromes and diseases that affect a child's growth.

FTT or failure to thrive is an impairment that can become life threatening if the underlying cause is not diagnosed and corrected. The word THRIVE means "to grow well: grow vigorously and healthily. Failure to do so is referred to as FTT or failure to thrive, which can manifest other abnormalities within the body.

Along with determining the cause, which could include physical problems, emotional/ social adaptation issues, or environmental factors, a positive treatment outcome is necessary to sustain the life of the affected individual. A diagnosis of FTT or failure to thrive literally means the body's internal mechanisms are being deprived of the necessary nutrients to "feed" the body. The resultant deprivation may produce symptoms that may range from mild to severe. Determining the underlying cause swiftly will enhance the prognosis, preventing further harm or damage if the cause remains unknown and untreated.

Any aged individual may succumb to the effects of FTT or failure to thrive, but with infants there are additional challenges due to their relatively small body mass. There are minimal reserves available to the infant that may be converted directly from its body fat to provide the nutritional values necessary for day to day use. Their inability to directly communicate also creates another obstacle that can hinder conclusion as to the origin of the FTT or failure to thrive. FTT is simply a symptom or manifestation that that may mask a more serious illness or disease.

FTT or failure to thrive is primarily observed in infants between birth and approximately 5-6 months, but may also occur at an older age. During this period the infant undergoes careful and frequent monitoring by a Pediatrician, which includes a record of height, weight and feeding habits. From birth, an infant is ranked in a growth percentile dependent upon their birth weight. The recorded data will assist in determining if the infant is developing normally.

A pediatrician is specially trained to treat infants and children and would note abnormal variances in growth and provide treatment before serious

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