Table of contents:
- What is dwarfism?
- What causes this dwarf human disorder?
- What are the consequences if you have a stunted body due to dwarfism?
- Can dwarfism be cured?
Not everyone with short stature is sure to have dwarfism. Dwarfism is a term coined by the advocacy group Little People of America (LPA) to describe a group of pygmy people, whose height is stuck about 120-140 cm even when they are adults. What caused it?
What is dwarfism?
Dwarfism is a physical disorder that causes a person's body to be extremely short. Dwarfism is also often referred to as the "disease" of dwarf humans. The most common type of dwarfism is skeletal dysplasia and it is genetic or hereditary. Skeletal dysplasia is a condition of abnormal bone growth that causes a person's bone growth to be disproportionate.
Many different medical conditions cause a person to be stunted. In general, dwarfism is divided into two broad categories:
- Disproportionate Dwarfism: This condition describes a disproportionate size of the body, some small body parts, and the body size is average or above average in size. This disorder causes disproportionate dwarfism and hinders bone development.
- Proportional dwarfism: This condition describes a body that is proportionately small in all parts of the body to the same degree, and appears proportionate to an average body. If this condition occurs at an early age, it can limit the growth of your bones.
What causes this dwarf human disorder?
Dwarfism can be caused by a variety of conditions. According to several studies, there are more than 300 conditions that can cause dwarfism and abnormal bone growth. The most common conditions that cause stunted bodies are genetic disorders that are passed on by one or both parents. Most of these disorders are caused by spontaneous mutations in the egg or sperm before fertilization. Two disorders, achondroplasia and growth hormone deficiency (also known as pituitary dwarfism), are responsible for the majority of dwarfism cases.
Dwarfism may also have no known exact cause.
What are the consequences if you have a stunted body due to dwarfism?
There are several problems that dwarf people experience. For example, decreased motor skills, making it difficult to sit or walk. Dwarfism can also cause persistent ear infections that are at high risk for hearing loss, difficulty breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), tooth decay, arthritis, and being overweight.
Some conditions of dwarfism, usually already present at birth or in infancy, can be diagnosed via X-rays and a physical exam. The diagnosis of achondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, or spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia can be confirmed by genetic testing. In some cases, prenatal testing (while the baby is still in the womb) is done if there are concerns about certain conditions.
Can dwarfism be cured?
Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent or reduce the condition of dwarfism. A stunted body due to hormone deficiency can be treated with growth hormone intake. In many cases, people with dwarfism have orthopedic or medical complications. Treatment can include:
1. Installation of a shunt to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure on the brain
2. Corrective surgery for deformities such as cleft palate, club foot, or bent leg.
3. Surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids to correct respiratory problems related to large tonsils, small facial structures, or small chest.
4. Surgery to widen the spinal canal (the hole through the spinal cord) to relieve compression of the spenal bones.
