Treatment of lack of growth in children 2
Treatment of lack of growth in children 2
Contents
1 Lack of growth in children
2 Treatment of lack of growth in children
3 Treatment of growth deficiency in children by treating the causative agent
4 The medical staff responsible for treating growth deficiency in children
5 The factors that depend upon the treatment of growth deficiency in children
6 References
Stunted growth in children
Lack of growth, failure to thrive, stumbling or stagnant weight,
It is a term used to express a situation in which the child’s weight or the
speed of gaining weight is less than the normal limit compared to children of his age,
That is, the speed of the child’s growth does not achieve the expected speed of the child’s growth at the same age,
As it is difficult to know the expected growth rate for all children due to
the presence of a number of factors that affect growth, such as genetic and ethnic factors,
In this regard, understanding the natural growth of infants may
contribute to the detection of the occurrence of abnormal growth in the infant,
A full-fledged infant usually loses about 10% of its weight in the first days after its birth,
Then he quickly gains this weight again within two weeks, while his weight doubles in about the sixth month,
With the passage of the year of his life, it is expected that his weight has increased by three times.
However, this does not apply to a child who suffers from stunted growth.
And who does not show these changes that accompany the growth and development of the infant in the normal state,
Rather, losing weight or not gaining weight is continuous.
The reason for a child’s lack of growth may be attributed to:
1- Not getting the nutrients needed for growth and weight gain,
2- Or because his body is unable to retain these nutrients,
As the condition progresses, some symptoms may appear on the child who suffers from lack of nutrition, such as apathy and irritability,
It is possible that he does not show the usual signs of development, such as sitting, walking, and the ability to speak.
In general, children and infants with stunted growth appear younger.
Or a shorter length that is significantly noticeable compared to children of the same age,
As for adolescence, it appears in the form of short stature, or the absence of the changes that usually occur during puberty,
However, there is great variation in what can be considered a normal development and growth for an individual.
Treatment of lack of growth in children
Treatment of lack of growth in children aims to address the basic problems in child nutrition,
And ensuring that he gets the calories his body needs for growth,
Usually, treatment can be done at home along with regular visits to the doctor,
It should be noted that there is no clear period of time for treatment,
It may take several months for the baby to be within the healthy weight range for people his age.
Treatment of lack of growth in children by treating the cause
Treating the cause may enable the doctor to solve and treat the problem of lack of growth in the child.
This may be sufficient to help the child start gaining weight normally.
Accordingly, the method of managing the problem of lack of
growth in a child depends on the main cause that lies behind its
occurrence, and in the following are some examples:
1- Infection with some types of syndromes, such as:
First: Down syndrome, or Turner syndrome,
In this case, you may use the correct graphs showing the child’s expected growth.
Second: Turner syndrome
It is the health problem that occurs as a result of losing one of the X
chromosomes (X), or partially losing it, as this syndrome affects girls only,
Although there is no cure for Turner syndrome,
However, some treatments may help reduce symptoms in the sufferer.
As the use of estrogen replacement therapy, this therapy can help
initiate the development of secondary sexual characteristics that usually begin at around 12 years of age in adulthood.
Also, human growth hormone may be used to treat symptoms of Turner syndrome if given in early childhood.
And hormone injections can increase height in adults by a few centimeters.
Third: Down’s syndrome
It is a health condition that lasts for life, and occurs if the individual has additional chromosomes,
The early services provided to children and infants with Down syndrome often contribute to the development of their physical and intellectual capacities.
These services include treatment of speech problems, and physical therapy for the injured,
Children with Down syndrome may need more help and attention at school.
Although many of these children are included in regular classes.
2- Physical problems: such as:
- Cyanotic heart disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Wheat allergy.
First: Cyanotic heart disease
It is a group of several congenital heart defects that lead to a low level of oxygen in the blood,
Cyanosis is due to the change in the color of the skin and mucous membranes to a blue color.
Surgery is the most appropriate treatment option in most cases of congenital heart disease.
In this field, there are many types of surgeries, the choice of which depends on the type of congenital defect to be treated.
Some of them are necessary shortly after the birth of the child,
In other cases, it may be delayed for months or even years,
Some types of surgeries are performed as the child grows.
It may also be necessary to take diuretics and other heart medications before or after surgery.
Here, it must be stressed the need to determine the correct drug dosage, and to follow up with the health care provider regularly.
Second: Cystic Fibrosis
It is a genetic health problem that appears in children and affects the way water and salts get out and enter from cells,
In fact, there is no cure at present that cures cystic fibrosis,
However, there are many treatments used to relieve symptoms and prevent complications of the disease,
Therefore, treatment in the case of cystic fibrosis aims to clean the air passages and lungs as much as possible,
And treating and preventing infection, and making sure to provide adequate calories and nutrients to the injured.
Third: Coeliac disease
Symptoms of the coeliac disease usually appear after the age of 6-9 months.
It may develop at any time after eating wheat or other foods that contain gluten.
Therefore, the only treatment for wheat allergy is the adoption of food that is completely devoid of gluten for life,
Therefore, it is preferable to convert a child with a wheat allergy to eating gluten-free foods as soon as possible.
The sooner the procedure begins, the less the child will suffer and the faster his recovery begins.
Medical staff responsible for treating growth deficiency in children
The treatment of lack of growth in the child requires the collaboration of the medical care team, which includes doctors and specialists in several fields, including the following:
- Pediatrician or primary care physician.
- A registered dietitian to assess a child’s nutritional needs.
- An occupational therapist helps the child and caregivers develop successful feeding behaviors.
- Speech therapist; To treat problems related to swallowing or sucking in a child.
- A social worker, he helps the family if it is difficult to provide enough food for the child.
- A psychologist or other mental health professional to provide help if a child has behavior problems.
- A specialist in treating the underlying health problem experienced by the child, such as: a neurologist, cardiologist, or gastroenterologist.
The factors that depend on the treatment of growth deficiency in children
There are a set of factors that the doctor relies on in choosing a specific treatment for a child’s lack of growth, and among these factors are the following:
- Symptoms experienced by the child.
- The child’s age, general health, and medical history.
- The child’s tolerance for certain types of drugs, procedures, or treatments.
- The cause of the child’s lack of growth.
- Predictions of a child’s course of the condition.
İmportant notice:
The content of the submitted articles, including all text, graphics, images, and other materials, is provided for educational purposes only.
The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice or professional diagnosis.
Moreover, the information on this website should not be taken as final medical advice in relation to any case or individual situation.
We strongly recommend that you always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health service provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition, your general health, or the health of your child.
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References
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