FAILURE TO THRIVE

This condition, that means low weight and height, is almost a universal finding in orphanages. In 98% of cases it is caused by malnutrition and poor feeding patterns, depression, lack of appropriate nutrients in the diet etc. The extreme manifestation of malnutrition is psycho-social dwarfism, a severe disease that requires long rehabilitation.

Few percents of children with failure-to-thrive will have severe congenital disorders like cystic fibrosis, primary immune deficiencies and others.