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Reason For Child's Inability To Gain Weight And Height?

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Posted on Wed, 5 Mar 2014
Question: My child will be 2 years old on 7march 2014. On 25th September 2013 we got his blood test done and his haemoglobin was 8.4. He was prescribed orofer syrup 2.5 ml twice a day. After 2 months we did his blood test again and his haemoglobin was 10. He is still having orofer syrup. His diet includes rice, dal, chapati, mutton, egg, milk, date syrup, dry fruits, palak, tomato and other fruits and vegetables as well. His weight is 8.5 KGS and his height is quite less compared to other children of his age. He isn't gaining weight inspite of eating healthy food in good proportion. I am very worried why. But he is very active and loves to play. He is also very sound and sharp mentally inspite of being diagnosed with anemia. His pediatrician has asked to get his blood checked again in march. I would like to know why he isn't gaining weight and height because his parents have good height. Mother-5.3 and father-6.2
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Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer: EXPLAINED BELOW Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your heatlh concern. Yes, your child is below the third percentile of weight for his age, this condition is called as failure to thrive. There could be various reasons for this condition. The leading reason is that he is not taking enough calories compensated for his age, and activity. The food items mentioned by you are quite nutritious , however, he might not be taking them regularly or in required amounts. Please maintain a daily meticulous food diary, detailing the amount and type of food in exact measurements. Then consult a Nutritionist to compare if the daily diet chart is good enough or requires modification. Food fads or improper feeding ( bottles, juices, over pureed or thinned foods ) can cause this, as can overestimation by parents as to what the child actually ate. Behavioural and psychological problems in the child can lead to decreased intake. If the parents are overworked or depressed, there is poor focus on feeding. He might be having a structural problem in his palate, tongue ,teeth, jaw or neural or muscular weakness in the mouth or entire gut, which may hamper absorption Certain malabsorption conditions can lead to inability to utilize calories from food inspite of proper intake Hormonal deficiencies of thyroid hormone or growth hormone can lead to growth arrests. Recurrent infections, or worm infestations often cause inadequate weight gain. Undiagnosed heart and lung ailments can impair growth, as can deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the diet. Some children are genetically small built, this could be the reason inspite of good parental built ( dont fair parents sometimes have a dark child ? ) Please ask your paediatrician to perform detailed testing for these conditions - blood tests, ultrasound, biopsy , enzymatic testing for rare diseases etc. This should not be neglected as he is definitely anemic and undergrown. Continue the iron supplements. Ask your doctor if multivitamin, calcium , vitamin D and protein powder supplements should be added - according to me they should be. All the best. Please feel free to discuss further.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Aarti Abraham

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Practicing since :1998

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Reason For Child's Inability To Gain Weight And Height?

Brief Answer: EXPLAINED BELOW Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your heatlh concern. Yes, your child is below the third percentile of weight for his age, this condition is called as failure to thrive. There could be various reasons for this condition. The leading reason is that he is not taking enough calories compensated for his age, and activity. The food items mentioned by you are quite nutritious , however, he might not be taking them regularly or in required amounts. Please maintain a daily meticulous food diary, detailing the amount and type of food in exact measurements. Then consult a Nutritionist to compare if the daily diet chart is good enough or requires modification. Food fads or improper feeding ( bottles, juices, over pureed or thinned foods ) can cause this, as can overestimation by parents as to what the child actually ate. Behavioural and psychological problems in the child can lead to decreased intake. If the parents are overworked or depressed, there is poor focus on feeding. He might be having a structural problem in his palate, tongue ,teeth, jaw or neural or muscular weakness in the mouth or entire gut, which may hamper absorption Certain malabsorption conditions can lead to inability to utilize calories from food inspite of proper intake Hormonal deficiencies of thyroid hormone or growth hormone can lead to growth arrests. Recurrent infections, or worm infestations often cause inadequate weight gain. Undiagnosed heart and lung ailments can impair growth, as can deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the diet. Some children are genetically small built, this could be the reason inspite of good parental built ( dont fair parents sometimes have a dark child ? ) Please ask your paediatrician to perform detailed testing for these conditions - blood tests, ultrasound, biopsy , enzymatic testing for rare diseases etc. This should not be neglected as he is definitely anemic and undergrown. Continue the iron supplements. Ask your doctor if multivitamin, calcium , vitamin D and protein powder supplements should be added - according to me they should be. All the best. Please feel free to discuss further.