Growth problems

Symptoms
In babies, growth problems usually appear as a failure to put on weight (or occasionally excessive weight gain), although length and head circumference are also important.
From toddlers onwards, height is measured as well as weight and there may be concern if either or both fall below normal. Accompanying symptoms, such as poor appetite or chronic diarrhoea, may be clues to the diagnosis.

 

Causes

Many factors can cause real or apparent failure to grow at a normal rate.
When small babies don't gain enough weight this is known as failure to thrive. The causes range from physical illness (such as inherited conditions or malabsorption) to practical problems with feeding (difficulty breastfeeding, mistakes with formula feeding) and emotional neglect. Premature babies or babies of small parents may seem to have growth problems but be quite normal, while breastfed babies can have a dramatic initial weight gain.
The height and weight of older children varies greatly. There may be growth spurts as well as periods when there seems to be little growth, but they should generally follow the standard growth curve. Growth problems may be due to illness (for example, food absorption problems such as coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease or any prolonged illness), infections (growth may slow temporarily with common childhood infections), poor eating habits (rarely affects growth) or psychological problems.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia, can have a serious impact on growth.

Who's affected?

Growth problems are common throughout childhood but are usually temporary. There's rarely a serious underlying problem and most late developers eventually catch up.

Diagnosis and treatment

Children should be regularly measured and their weight and height monitored on standard growth curves (available from your health visitor).
Treatment of growth problems depends on the cause, but you should ensure that babies are getting all the nutrients they need and that older children are eating healthily.
READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/health