Pediatric Crohn’s Disease With Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Resulting in Failure to Thrive: A Case Report

Failure to thrive (FTT) refers to a condition where a child does not gain weight or grow at the expected rate for their age and gender. An accepted definition includes a weight less than the lowest acceptable range on standardized growth charts. FTT is often a diagnostic challenge for providers treating children with mixed etiologies. This report discusses the case of an 11-year-old female with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease and avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Management by an interprofessional healthcare team has been difficult, given the multifactorial nature of the patient's weight loss. This report suggests that behavioral and psychological aspects, such as aversion to eating and reluctance to experiment with different foods, may align with symptoms of Crohn's disease in children. It also emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and appropriate interventions, as they can mitigate psychological and developmental setbacks.