... About Dwarfism

I saw this one article on dwarfism and it is by Terrilynn Fox Quillen. Her article was quite interesting and I feel that I can use it as a reliable source. It is from Wayne State's very own database ProQuest. The article presents some interesting information and it was pretty much broken down in two separating the myths from the facts.

MYTH:
Dwarfism is a developmental disorder characterized by mental retardation and shortened life expectancy

FACT:
More than 300 disorders may produce dwarfism, defined as a genetic or medical condition resulting in adult height of 4 feet 10 inches or shorter (typical range: 2 feet 8 inches to 4 feet 8 inches). Although some forms of dwarfism are associated with medical complications, most people have normal intellect and life expectancy, and age normally. However, depending on the type of dwarfism involved, they may require various treatments to address complications and maximize mobility. Dwarfism affects about 30,000 Americans and over 650,000 people worldwide.

MYTH:
Primordial dwarfism is associated with disproportionately short arms and legs.

FACT:
Primordial dwarfism is a diagnostic category that includes many specific syndromes that produce dwarfism—a very small but otherwise normally proportioned physical frame. Achondroplasia accounts for 70% of all cases of dwarfism that result in disproportionately short arms and legs; it's the most common condition associated with genetic skeletal dysplasia.

MYTH:
Dwarfism is quickly identified shortly after birth in neonates with low birth weight.

FACT:
Although dwarfism can sometimes be identified at or even before birth, many patients aren't diagnosed until later in childhood. Many babies with dwarfism have a normal birth weight and begin life with a normal appearance, but don't experience the same rate of growth as other children. Torso abnormalities associated with skeletal dysplasias, if present, may be too slight to be recognized at birth.

MYTH:
Disorders that produce dwarfism are irreversible congenital anomalies.

FACT:
Not all kinds of dwarfism are present at birth, nor are all kinds irreversible. For example, dwarfism caused by endocrine disorders (such as pituitary dwarfism may be reversed during childhood by hormone replacement therapy with injections of human growth hormone (HGH). Adolescent nutritional dwarfism, a precursor to pituitary dwarfism, is caused by iron and zinc deficiency and may be treated with dietary supplements.

She also mentioned hyperphagic short stature in her article, which is formerly known as psychosocial dwarfism, is a chronic traumatic stress–induced syndrome that manifests in abused children, and is characterized by stunted growth and excessive hunger. Although the condition is precipitated by pituitary suppression, generally it doesn't respond to HGH replacement. Instead, placing the child in a nonthreatening and loving environment naturally reverses hypopituitarism, resulting in rapid gains in growth.