CLINICAL EVALUATION AND NUTRITIONAL REHABILITATION OF GROWTH FALTERING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
Keywords:
growth faltering; failure to thrive; wasting; stunting; WHO growth standards; nutritional rehabilitation; pediatrics.Abstract
Growth faltering in early childhood is a clinical signal rather than a diagnosis. It can reflect inadequate dietary intake, feeding skill problems, recurrent infection, chronic disease, psychosocial adversity, or a combination of these factors. Because the first 1,000 days and early preschool years are periods of rapid brain and body development, timely evaluation and nutritional rehabilitation can prevent avoidable morbidity and improve developmental potential. This article presents a practical, outpatient-oriented methodology for evaluating growth faltering and delivering nutritional rehabilitation in children under five. It integrates anthropometric interpretation using WHO growth standards, risk stratification to identify children who require urgent referral, a structured history and physical examination focused on feeding and illness patterns, targeted laboratory testing when indicated, and stepwise nutritional rehabilitation with monitoring for response and safety.
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References
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