Many different medical conditions cause dwarfism. In general, the disorders are divided into two broad categories:. Some people prefer the term "short stature" or "little people" rather than "dwarf" or "dwarfism. Short stature disorders do not include familial short stature — short height that's considered a normal variation with normal bone development.
Signs and symptoms — other than short stature — vary considerably across the spectrum of disorders. Most people with dwarfism have disorders that cause disproportionately short stature. Usually, this means that a person has an average-size trunk and very short limbs, but some people may have a very short trunk and shortened but disproportionately large limbs.
In these disorders, the head is disproportionately large compared with the body. Almost all people with disproportionate dwarfism have normal intellectual capacities. Rare exceptions are usually the result of a secondary factor, such as excess fluid around the brain hydrocephalus. The most common cause of dwarfism is a disorder called achondroplasia, which causes disproportionately short stature. This disorder usually results in the following:.
Another cause of disproportionate dwarfism is a rare disorder called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita SEDC. Signs may include:. Proportionate dwarfism results from medical conditions present at birth or appearing in early childhood that limit overall growth and development. So the head, trunk and limbs are all small, but they're proportionate to each other.
Because these disorders affect overall growth, many of them result in poor development of one or more body systems. Growth hormone deficiency is a relatively common cause of proportionate dwarfism. It occurs when the pituitary gland fails to produce an adequate supply of growth hormone, which is essential for normal childhood growth. Signs include:. Signs and symptoms of disproportionate dwarfism are often present at birth or in early infancy.
Proportionate dwarfism may not be immediately apparent. See your child's doctor if you have any concerns about your child's growth or overall development. Most dwarfism-related conditions are genetic disorders, but the causes of some disorders are unknown. Most occurrences of dwarfism result from a random genetic mutation in either the father's sperm or the mother's egg rather than from either parent's complete genetic makeup.
About 80 percent of people with achondroplasia are born to parents of average height. A person with achondroplasia and with two average-size parents received one mutated copy of the gene associated with the disorder and one normal copy of the gene. A person with the disorder may pass along either a mutated or normal copy to his or her own children. Turner syndrome, a condition that affects only girls and women, results when a sex chromosome the X chromosome is missing or partially missing.
A female inherits an X chromosome from each parent. A girl with Turner syndrome has only one fully functioning copy of the female sex chromosome rather than two. The cause of growth hormone deficiency can sometimes be traced to a genetic mutation or injury, but for most people with the disorder, no cause can be identified. Other causes of dwarfism include other genetic disorders, deficiencies in other hormones or poor nutrition.
Sometimes the cause is unknown. Complications of dwarfism-related disorders can vary greatly, but some complications are common to a number of conditions. The characteristic features of the skull, spine and limbs shared by most forms of disproportionate dwarfism result in some common problems:. With proportionate dwarfism, problems in growth and development often result in complications with poorly developed organs.
For example, heart problems that often occur with Turner syndrome can have a significant effect on health. An absence of sexual maturation associated with growth hormone deficiency or Turner syndrome affects both physical development and social functioning. Women with disproportionate dwarfism may develop respiratory problems during pregnancy. A C-section cesarean delivery is almost always necessary because the size and shape of the pelvis doesn't allow for successful vaginal delivery.
Most people with dwarfism prefer not to be labeled by a condition. However, some people may refer to themselves as dwarfs, little people or people of short stature. There are two main categories of dwarfism:. Dwarfism is a relatively rare condition. Each of the individual types of dwarfism is even rarer. It affects about one of every 25, to 30, newborns. With achondroplasia, there is a problem with the gene that allows the body to change cartilage to bone while growing.
This often affects the long bones. People with this type of dwarfism have:. Many people who have achondroplasia have hydrocephalus , which is fluid in the brain. Typically, hydrocephalus associated with achondroplasia is mild. But if it is severe or persistent, the doctor can place a shunt , which is like a drain from the brain into the abdomen. Some people with achondroplasia also have apnea or sleep apnea. This is a medical condition where you stop breathing or your breathing slows down while you're sleeping.
Examples of other types of dwarfism include:. Dwarfism can be caused by a genetic condition. It can also be caused by a medical or hormonal condition. The majority of people with dwarfism have gene mutations. This means they have changes in specific genes. These mutations interfere with normal development.
They may also affect the growth of the cartilage and bones in the body. Since arms and legs have the longest bones, any problems with normal bone development usually result in shorter limbs.
This leads to short stature. Any genetic change that causes dwarfism can be inherited from parents. It may also develop during fetal development. Two short-statured people can have a non-dwarf child.
Average-sized parents can give birth to a child with achondroplasia. Some non-genetic types of dwarfism can be caused by a growth hormone deficiency. They can also occur if a baby or child's body does not get the nutrients that they need for growth and proper development.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Dwarfism is short stature that results from a genetic or medical condition. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Bang GM, et al. Frequently asked questions.
Little People of America. Accessed May 14, National Library of Medicine. Genetics Home Reference. Accessed Aug. Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. Rogol AD. Causes of short stature. Isolated growth hormone deficiency. Turner syndrome. Learning about Turner syndrome.
National Human Genome Research Institute. Pagon RA, et al. In: GeneReviews. Seattle, Wash. Wright MJ, et al. Continue maintaining a healthy diet and talk to your belly. We look at DreamCloud mattress reviews and details for their two hybrid mattresses. The jejunum is one of three sections that make up the small intestine. Learn about its function and anatomy, as well as the conditions that can affect…. The Brooklyn Bedding Bloom Hybrid is a medium-firm hybrid mattress designed for all sleepers.
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What Is Dwarfism? Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Types of dwarfism. What causes dwarfism? Genetics and other risk factors.
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