Support Optimal Growth Through Provision of Proper Nutrition for Children with Growth Disorders

Disorders of growth and development in children can be caused by various things, including lack of nutritional intake during the growth period. Therefore, it is important to always pay attention to nutritional intake as a form of handling the condition of failure to thrive in children.

Impaired growth in children is not a disease or disorder, but a sign that the child is malnourished. When experiencing failure to thrive, children are smaller, shorter, and not as agile as other children their age.

In Indonesia itself, the problem of malnutrition is not a new thing. In 2018, it was recorded that more than 2 million children suffered from malnutrition and more than 7 million children under the age of 5 years experienced failure to thrive. As a result, the risk of children experiencing developmental disorders and immune problems is higher.

Causes of Failure to thrive in Children and Symptoms

Insufficient nutritional intake which is the most common cause of failure to thrive in children can be caused by various things, ranging from breastfeeding problems, difficulty consuming solid food (MPASI), eating disorders, to the habit of choosing food or picky eaters.

Besides malnutrition, there are many other causes that can cause a child to fail to thrive, both from medical and environmental factors. The following are the causes of failure to thrive in children due to certain medical problems or health problems:

• A food intolerance or allergy, such as a milk, egg or peanut allergy
• Nutrient absorption disorders due to digestive system problems, such as chronic diarrhea, acid reflux disease, or Celiac disease
• Disorders of growth and development due to genetic disorders, such as Down's syndrome
• Blood disorders, such as anemia and thalassemia
• Chronic infections, eg tuberculosis and HIV
• Born prematurely or with low birth weight
• metabolic disorders
• Congenital diseases, such as congenital heart disease
• Mental disorders, such as depression and psychological trauma

In addition to the health problems above, growth disorders or failure to thrive in children can also be caused by environmental factors, such as:

• Social and economic factors, such as poverty and natural disasters, which make it difficult for children to obtain nutritious food
• Child neglect or neglect
• Loss of emotional bond between parent and child
• Lack of parental education and information regarding the nutritional needs of their children
• Poor eating habits
• Physical or psychological violence, for example as a result of domestic violence

Children's Signs of Failure to Grow

The symptoms of failure to thrive can be different for each child. However, in general, children who experience failure to thrive will show the following characteristics:

• The child's height and weight as well as head circumference are not in accordance with normal growth standards according to age and gender
• Underweight or far below the ideal body weight for height
• Delays in the development of physical skills, such as rolling, crawling, sitting, standing, walking, and speaking
• Delayed motor development
• Lack of expression of children's emotions, such as smiling, laughing, or making eye contact
• Children often seem weak, less active, and cannot play with other children
• Children have difficulty learning at school or are less responsive to conditions in the surrounding environment

Nutrition for Children with Failure to thrive

In the early period of life, various problems can arise when a child has growth disorders. Not only does it have an impact on a child's brain, physical and mental development, failure to thrive can also cause the immune system to weaken, making the child vulnerable to illness or infection.

Treatment of failure to thrive in children may vary, depending on the cause, the severity of the condition, environmental conditions, and the child's overall health.

If a child's failure to thrive is caused by a certain health condition, the doctor will usually treat the causative factor first.

In addition, to increase nutritional intake for children who fail to thrive, doctors can also improve children's eating patterns. Provision of additional supplementary intake is also usually required so that the child's nutritional intake can be fulfilled and the rate of growth and development can be caught.

If necessary, your little one is indicated to be malnourished according to a doctor's diagnosis, you can provide an energy-dense formula for nutritional support for your little one, such as oral nutritional supplements (SNO). This supplement is able to increase children's weight, especially those who are at risk of failure to thrive or experience malnutrition for children aged over 1 year.

However, keep in mind that giving any supplements to support a child's nutrition and immunity must be in accordance with the doctor's diagnosis and recommendations. The reason is, the use of inappropriate supplements in children actually risks causing health problems.

So, if your little one shows symptoms of failure to thrive, you should immediately take him to the doctor to get the right examination and treatment, according to the nutritional needs and condition of the little one.

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