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Failure to thrive in childhood often result of an underlying organic disease

Date:
October 10, 2011
Source:
Deutsches Aerzteblatt International
Summary:
Failure to thrive in childhood is often the result of an underlying organic disease. Researchers now provide an overview of diagnoses and treatment options.
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Failure to thrive in childhood is often the result of an underlying organic disease. In the current edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2011; 108[38]: 642-9), Walter Nützenadel provides an overview of diagnoses and treatment options.

Symptoms such as insufficient weight and loss of weight caused by a lack of nutrients do not affect children in developing countries alone: they also affect 2% to 24% of patients in pediatric hospitals in developed countries. They can therefore impair not only physical development, but also psychomotor and intellectual maturation and defenses against infection. Because of this, early intervention is recommended.

The severity of malnutrition must be determined in order for suitable treatment to be provided. Accurate diagnosis of the underlying disease is also needed, as failure to thrive is often a symptom of a gastrointestinal or neurological disease. Therapy should focus on treatment of the underlying condition. If malnutrition is severe, nutritional treatment may also be used.


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Materials provided by Deutsches Aerzteblatt International. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Walter Nützenadel. Failure to thrive in childhood. Dtsch Arztebl Int, 108(38): 642%u20139 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2011.0642

Cite This Page:

Deutsches Aerzteblatt International. "Failure to thrive in childhood often result of an underlying organic disease." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 10 October 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111010133045.htm>.
Deutsches Aerzteblatt International. (2011, October 10). Failure to thrive in childhood often result of an underlying organic disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111010133045.htm
Deutsches Aerzteblatt International. "Failure to thrive in childhood often result of an underlying organic disease." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111010133045.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

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