Failure to thrive

Causes	Appropriate Tests
	Clinical assessment, including measurement of height and weight, assessment of growth over time. Urine - microscopy and culture
Reduced nutrient availability
Dietary deficiency
Vomiting
Diarrhoea, including Malabsorption, especially Cystic fibrosis Coeliac disease Food intolerance	See under Diarrhoea.
Intestinal infection
Increased nutrient requirements
Infection, especially Urinary tract infection Respiratory infection Giardiasis	If not apparent, consider possibility of occult infection: FBC, differential WCC, blood film, ESR or CRP may be helpful. See under Cough - chronic.
Immunodeficiency, especially AIDS
Inborn errors of metabolism	Rare causes, consider if above excluded; consult pathologist

Glossary Terms