Poor Weight Gain - Symptoms

Following are the signs and symptoms of poor weight gain in children:

1. The child weight is stagnant for more than three months.
2. There is no height increase for more than six months, except in the older age group.
3. The child is easily fatigued, sometimes experiencing fainting spells and dizziness.
4. The child catches infections easily or is constantly ill.
5. The child has a problem of absentmindedness and low concentration.
6. The child has eating as well as mood disorders and displays rigidness, irritability, irrational fears and worries, making them prone to risky or troubled behaviour.

Complications:

Ignoring poor weight gain can lead to the following complications:

• nutritional deficiencies
  • anaemia, bone pains, brittle bones, rickets, osteoporosis
  • extreme dryness of skin and early hair loss
• low immunity
• growth retardation
• delayed puberty - underweight boys and girls fail to develop secondary sexual characters, with inhibited periods in girls
• problems in concentrating, learning and memory
• cardiac problems, in severe cases