Short stature due to dwarfism or cretinism? What is the difference?

Have you ever read the fairy tale "Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs"? Apparently, people who have bodies like dwarves are not only in fairy tales. People with dwarfism or cretinism have this abnormally short stature. Dwarfism and cretinism are both caused by problematic production of growth hormone (HGH), but these two conditions are different things.

So, to find out more clearly what are the differences between dwarfism and cretinism, consider the following review.

Short stature due to dwarfism or cretinism?

Different definitions

Dwarfism is a physical disorder that causes a person to be extremely short. However, not everyone who is short has dwarfism.

The term dwarfism was coined by the advocacy group Little People of America (LPA) to describe people who are 120-140 cm tall as adults. That is why dwarfism is also often referred to as a dwarf human disease.

In general, dwarfism is divided into two broad categories:

• Disproportionate Dwarfism: This condition describes the size of the body that is not different, not as a whole dwarf. Some parts of the body can be small, while the body is of average size or above average in size.
• Proportional dwarfism: This condition causes the whole body to be small and short, looking proportional. If this condition occurs at an early age, it can limit the growth of your bones.

Then, dwarfism was disproportionately categorized into 3 types, namely achondroplasia, congenital spondyloepiphyeal dysplasia (SEDC), and diastrophic dysplasia.

Meanwhile, cretinism is an advanced condition that occurs when congenital hypothyroidism is not cured. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to growth failure and limited intelligence in children. Cretinism is of no different type.

Different causes

Short stature due to dwarfism is most commonly caused by genetic disorders in the womb that are passed down from one or both parents. Another possible cause of dwarfism is a bone growth disorder that makes the body smaller than normal. This can occur due to metabolic disorders or malnutrition problems that interfere with growth hormone. This disorder inhibits bone development.

As explained above, cretinism occurs as a continuation of congenital hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disorder in children. The function of the thyroid gland is very important because it affects the development of the brain and body. This growth failure can occur due to genetic disorders that make the thyroid gland not produce enough growth hormone (HGH) it needs.

Some of the possible causes of cretinism include:

• Absence of a thyroid gland or a defect in the thyroid gland
• Iodine deficiency during pregnancy.
• The mother has a disease of the thyroid gland during pregnancy.
• The pituitary gland in the brain does not function properly so that the thyroid gland also works abnormally.

3. The symptoms caused

Although both of them make the body short, the other signs and symptoms exhibited by each of these conditions are different.

The signs and symptoms of dwarfism can differ depending on the type of dwarfism you have. However, dwarfism generally shows symptoms:

• Very short arms and legs
• Short arms and legs; fingers also appear short; deformity of the thumb
• Limited elbow movement
• Disproportionately large and disproportionate head size
• O-leg (bent club)
• Height is only about 91-122 cm
• Has a short neck
• The mouth is always open
• The upper spine is bent
• Experiencing hearing and vision problems
• Has a more broad chest
• Have joint inflammation
• Limited body movement
• Difficulty moving
• Difficulty breathing
• Late puberty or not puberty
• Body development does not match the growth rate at normal age.

Meanwhile, the symptoms of cretinism include:

• The face of a newborn baby looks swollen and dull
• The tongue appears enlarged, thick, and protruding
  
• Jaundice (skin discoloration and whites turn yellow)
• Changes in body weight that increase suddenly
• The pulse slows down
• Difficulty breathing
• The baby looks short

Dwarfism and cretinism can look alike. But to be sure, you should consult your doctor to get a precise diagnosis. After the diagnosis is obtained, treatment can be carried out according to your condition.