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Table of Contents
Types
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Dwarfism occurs when a person has a short stature. It usually results in an adult height of four feet, 10 inches or shorter. For children, this means being below the height growth curve for their age. This would be less than the third percentile, meaning that 97% of children are taller at the same age.
This article will discuss the various kinds of dwarfism. It will also talk about what causes dwarfism and how a doctor diagnoses it.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Hundreds of different genetic variations can cause dwarfism.All people with dwarfism have a short stature. But different things can cause dwarfism. And people with various types of dwarfism have different physical characteristics.
Dwarfism is a relatively rare condition. Each of the individual types of dwarfism is even rarer.
Achondroplasia
Achondroplasia makes up 70% of all cases of dwarfism. It affects about one of every 25,000 to 30,000 newborns.
With achondroplasia, there is a problem with the gene that allows the body to changecartilagetobonewhile 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 ashunt, which is like a drain from the brain into the abdomen.
Some people with achondroplasia also have apnea orsleep apnea. This is a medical condition where you stop breathing or your breathing slows down while you’re sleeping.
Other Types
Examples of other types of dwarfism include:
Genetics
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.
Medical Causes
Doctors can diagnose some types of dwarfism during early pregnancy with genetic testing.
Dwarfism itself is not a disease, so there is no “cure.” Most people with dwarfism have the same level of intelligence as a person with average height. They also lead healthy, active lives.
But the conditions that cause dwarfism can cause health complications. These health complications often involve the spine and lower limbs.
Some medical issues relating to dwarfism are treated with surgery. These surgeries are usually performed on the following parts of the body:
Surgical treatments can help improve a little person’s quality of life and survival.
If a child is very short, they might not receive a diagnosis of dwarfism when there are no other features besides short stature. Many people who are on the short side of the normal growth spectrum do not have dwarfism.
In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Voxzogo (vosoritide). Voxzogo is the first and only FDA-approved treatment to increase linear growth for children of all ages with achondroplasia and open growth plates.
Summary
Dwarfism is not a disease, so there is no “cure.” Most people with dwarfism have the same level of intelligence as people of average height. They can also lead healthy, active lives just like any other person.
How Genetic Disorders Are Inherited
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Barstow C, Rerucha C.Evaluation of short and tall stature in children.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(1):43-50.KidsHealth.Dwarfism.MedlinePlus.Achondroplasia.Pauli RM.Achondroplasia: A comprehensive clinical review.Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2019;14(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13023-018-0972-6Harvard Medical School.What happens during OSA.Food and Drug Administration.Voxzogo label.Additional ReadingLin S, Li C, Li C, Zhang X.Growth hormone receptor mutations related to individual dwarfism.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5). doi:10.3390/ijms19051433Merker A, Neumeyer L, Hertel NT, Grigelioniene G, Mohnike K, Hagenäs L.Development of body proportions in achondroplasia: Sitting height, leg length, arm span, and foot length.Am J Med Genet A. 2018;176(9):1819-1829. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.40356
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Barstow C, Rerucha C.Evaluation of short and tall stature in children.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(1):43-50.KidsHealth.Dwarfism.MedlinePlus.Achondroplasia.Pauli RM.Achondroplasia: A comprehensive clinical review.Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2019;14(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13023-018-0972-6Harvard Medical School.What happens during OSA.Food and Drug Administration.Voxzogo label.Additional ReadingLin S, Li C, Li C, Zhang X.Growth hormone receptor mutations related to individual dwarfism.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5). doi:10.3390/ijms19051433Merker A, Neumeyer L, Hertel NT, Grigelioniene G, Mohnike K, Hagenäs L.Development of body proportions in achondroplasia: Sitting height, leg length, arm span, and foot length.Am J Med Genet A. 2018;176(9):1819-1829. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.40356
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Barstow C, Rerucha C.Evaluation of short and tall stature in children.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(1):43-50.KidsHealth.Dwarfism.MedlinePlus.Achondroplasia.Pauli RM.Achondroplasia: A comprehensive clinical review.Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2019;14(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13023-018-0972-6Harvard Medical School.What happens during OSA.Food and Drug Administration.Voxzogo label.
Barstow C, Rerucha C.Evaluation of short and tall stature in children.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(1):43-50.
KidsHealth.Dwarfism.
MedlinePlus.Achondroplasia.
Pauli RM.Achondroplasia: A comprehensive clinical review.Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2019;14(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13023-018-0972-6
Harvard Medical School.What happens during OSA.
Food and Drug Administration.Voxzogo label.
Lin S, Li C, Li C, Zhang X.Growth hormone receptor mutations related to individual dwarfism.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5). doi:10.3390/ijms19051433Merker A, Neumeyer L, Hertel NT, Grigelioniene G, Mohnike K, Hagenäs L.Development of body proportions in achondroplasia: Sitting height, leg length, arm span, and foot length.Am J Med Genet A. 2018;176(9):1819-1829. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.40356
Lin S, Li C, Li C, Zhang X.Growth hormone receptor mutations related to individual dwarfism.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(5). doi:10.3390/ijms19051433
Merker A, Neumeyer L, Hertel NT, Grigelioniene G, Mohnike K, Hagenäs L.Development of body proportions in achondroplasia: Sitting height, leg length, arm span, and foot length.Am J Med Genet A. 2018;176(9):1819-1829. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.40356
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