US Medical Term · maternity
Failure to Thrive
Retraso en el crecimiento
Also: Falla para medrar (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Failure to Thrive |
| Spanish (Español) | Retraso en el crecimiento |
| Chinese (中文) | 生長遲緩 |
| Korean (한국어) | 성장 부전 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Chậm tăng cân ở trẻ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Failure to thrive |
| Portuguese (Português) | Déficit de crescimento |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ภาวะเจริญเติบโตบกพร่อง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 発育不良 |
What it means
Failure to thrive (FTT) is a term used when a child is not gaining weight or growing as expected for their age and sex. It is identified on the pediatric growth chart, typically when weight falls below the 3rd to 5th percentile or drops significantly across two major percentile lines. Causes can include not getting enough calories, difficulty absorbing nutrients (as in celiac disease or cystic fibrosis), or underlying medical conditions. A thorough evaluation — including feeding history, blood tests, and sometimes specialist referrals — helps identify the cause. Treatment focuses on the underlying reason and ensuring the child receives enough nutrition.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My baby hasn't gained weight since her last visit — could this be failure to thrive?
Mi bebé no ha aumentado de peso desde su última visita — ¿podría ser retraso en el crecimiento?
What tests will you order to find out why my child isn't growing?
¿Qué pruebas pedirá para averiguar por qué mi hijo no está creciendo?
How many extra calories does my child need each day to catch up on growth?
¿Cuántas calorías adicionales necesita mi hijo al día para recuperar el crecimiento?
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R62 Lack of expected normal physiological development in childhood and adultsRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026