Abstract

BOLIOLI, PABLO et al. Falla de crecimiento en niños menores de 24 meses. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2003, vol.74, n.4, pp.245-254. ISSN 1688-1249.

Summary  Introduction: the 2 first years of postnatal life constitute a critical period, where numerous injuries can affect the growth and development with consequences at later periods which are not repairable. This prospective study was planned to improve the diagnosis and integral treatment of the child under 2 years of age with a failure to thrive. Objective: to apply a plan of study and treatment, using a simple methodology with local resources, accessible to the population and analyze the factors with an incidence in the early stage of the failure to thrive. Material and method: between 1999 and 2001, 40 children between the ages of 6 to 24 months were admitted complying with the criteria of inclusion. They were seen by an interdisciplinary team, who evaluated them according to a diagnostic algorithm, treated them with a pre-established therapeutic plan and followed up with adequate controls according to the severity of the case in a personalized way. Results: the average age on admission was 11,6 months. They had been exclusively breast-fed for 3,5 months on average, the suspension of which coincides with the slowing down in growth. The adhesion to the treatment was high. In spite of only 55% fully completing the treatment, the median score Z in weight developed from -2,41 on admission to -1,86 in the last evaluation. Conclusions: the failure to thrive in the majority of the children was of a nutritional cause, not having an adequate management of the introduction of solid foods at the time of weaning. A good evolution was achieved from the moment treatment was started. The methodology used was useful and its application at the first level of care seems absolutely necessary and possible.

Keywords : GROWTH DISORDERS.

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