Child Protection Investigation Specialist (CPIS) Practice Exam

What medical condition is characterized by a child not gaining weight or growing properly?

1. Bulimia

2. Failure to thrive

3. Anorexia

4. Asthma

The correct answer is: Failure to thrive

The medical condition characterized by a child not gaining weight or growing properly is failure to thrive. This condition is often identified in infants and young children and is typically associated with inadequate nutrition, which can result from various underlying issues such as medical conditions, feeding difficulties, or psychosocial factors. Children who are failing to thrive may show signs of poor growth, decreased appetite, and regression in development. Unlike other options, such as bulimia or anorexia, which primarily involve eating disorders that also affect weight but are more commonly seen in older children and adolescents, failure to thrive specifically describes a broader failure to meet growth benchmarks in the developmental stage of early childhood. Asthma does not directly correlate with weight gain or growth issues; it is a respiratory condition and does not typically affect a child's ability to gain weight unless compounded by severe illness or other conditions. This makes failure to thrive the most appropriate choice reflecting an overall growth concern in children.