Dwarfism Essay

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Dwarfism is not classified as a disease, rather, it is a genetic condition that has an affect on the growth and development of the skeletal system. An adult under the height of 4 feet and 10 inches is typically considered to have dwarfism. The two main types of dwarfism are disproportionate or proportionate. Proportionate dwarfism is when a person experiences an effect on their growth resulting in a short stature and disproportionate dwarfism is when the limbs do not develop properly, but the rest of the body is proportionate. Etiology: There are many different genetic mutations and abnormalities that can cause dwarfism. The most common causes of disproportionate dwarfism are achondroplasia, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasias, diastrophic dysplasia, …show more content…

The only population that is most commonly affect would be the developing fetus, which is where most cases of genetic mutations that result in dwarfism occur. Pathophysiology/Epidemiology: Dwarfism affects the whole skeletal system as well as certain parts of the brain. Depending whether the person has proportionate dwarfism or disproportionate dwarfism there can be varying effects on the person's growth and development. The main cause of a child being born with proportionate dwarfism is if their parents also happen to be affected with this condition. Proportionate dwarfism can also occur when the body does not produce enough growth hormone. This can be present at birth if there is problems with the pituitary gland or it can be linked as part of another condition. Proportionate dwarfism can also occur during childhood if there is an injury to the brain, a brain tumour or if the child goes through radio therapy around the …show more content…

Other than the most apparent signs, short stature and short limbs, there are a number of symptoms that can affect the person as a result of this condition. Many individuals experience delays in early motor development (such as learning to sit up, crawl and walk), frequent ear infections which could increase the risk of hearing loss, bowing of the legs, sleep apnea, pressure on spinal cord at the base of the skull, hydrocephalus, weight gain resulting in joint pain, and crowded teeth. Additionally they are at risk for many spinal problems such as severe hunching, lower back pain, spinal stenosis, and numbness in the legs as well as arthritis.For people that suffer from a type dwarfism, day to day life can be very difficult for them because they suffer from so many physical symptoms. It can greatly affect the types of activities that they can participate in. Not only do they suffer from physical symptoms, but they also experience more symptoms that are not directly related to their condition. People who have dwarfism look different and as a result it makes them vulnerable to teasing and bullying. This can lead them to feeling isolated from their peers, having a low self esteem, feeling depressed, and it can impact their work and school performance. There are many misconceptions about people who have this condition and they are often labeled as “midgets”. Most people that have a form

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