Contents:
- Medical Video: Dwarfism - What You Need To Know
- What is dwarfism?
- What is the cause of this pygmy human disorder?
- What are the consequences if you have a dwarf body due to dwarfism?
- Can dwarfism be cured?
Medical Video: Dwarfism - What You Need To Know
Not all short people must have dwarfism. Dwarfism is a term initiated by the advocacy group Little People of America (LPA) to describe a group of dwarf humans, whose height stuck around 120-140 cm even when they are adults. What caused it?
What is dwarfism?
Dwarfism is a condition of physical abnormalities that makes a person's body very, very short. Dwarfism is also often called the "disease" of dwarf humans. The most common type of dwarfism is skeletal dysplasia and is of a genetic or decreased nature. Skeletal dysplasia is a condition of abnormal bone growth which causes disproportionate growth of one's bones.
Many different medical conditions cause a dwarf. In general, dwarfism is divided into two broad categories:
- Disproportionate dwarfism: This condition describes a disproportionate body size, several small body parts, and an average body size or size above average. This disorder causes disproportionate dwarfism and inhibits bone development.
- Proportional dwarfism: This condition describes a body that is proportionately small in all parts of the body to the same level, and looks proportional to the body with an average size. If this condition appears at an early age, this can limit your bone growth.
What is the cause of this pygmy human disorder?
Dwarfism can be caused by various conditions.According to several studies, there are more than 300 conditions that can cause dwarfism and abnormal bone growth. The most common condition causes a dwarf body to be a genetic disorder that is passed down by one or both parents. Most of these abnormalities 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 cases of dwarfism.
Dwarfism is also not known for its exact cause.
What are the consequences if you have a dwarf body due to dwarfism?
There are several problems experienced by dwarfists. For example, slowing motor skills, so that sitting or walking is difficult. Dwarfism can also cause continuous ear infections that are at high risk for hearing loss, difficulty breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), teeth grow messy, arthritis, and being overweight.
Some dwarfism conditions, usually already formed at birth or while still a baby, and can be diagnosed by X-rays and physical examination. The diagnosis of achondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, or spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia can be confirmed through genetic testing. In some cases, prenatal testing (when 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. The dwarf body due to lack of hormones can be treated with growth hormone intake. In many cases, people with dwarfism have orthopedic or medical complications. Treatment can include:
1. Installing a shunt to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure on the brain
2. Corrective surgery for deformities such as cleft palate, club legs, or bent legs.
3. Surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids to correct breathing problems related to large tonsils, small facial structures, or small breasts.
4. Surgery to widen the spinal canal (the hole through which the spinal cord passes) to relieve compression of the spenal bone.
