How to treat dwarfism
Dwarfism is a short stature that results from a genetic or medical condition and defined as a height of 4 feet and 10 inches or 147 centimeters or less. The average height of people with dwarfism is 4 feet or 122 cm. If you want to learn more about this condition, read here.
The condition of dwarfism is divided into two categories:
- Disproportionate dwarfism where the size of the body is uneven, some parts of the body are small, and others are of average size or above the average size. Conditions that cause disproportionate dwarfism slow down the development of muscles.
- Proportionate dwarfism is where all parts of the body are small to same degree and appear to be proportioned like an average body size. Some medical conditions during birth or in early childhood can cause in the limited growth and overall development of the body.
Symptoms of dwarfism
- Short arms and legs, especially the upper arms and legs
- An average size of the trunk
- There is immobility of the elbows
- Development of swayed lower back and bowed legs
- There are short fingers with a wide separation between the middle finger and the ring fingers.
- An even large head with a prominent forehead and flattened bridge of the nose.
- A adult height which is 4 feet or 122 cm
Other cause disproportionate dwarfism is a disorder known as spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenital. The symptoms include a very short trunk, average-size hands and feet, a short neck, a foot that is twisted or out of shape and problems with vision and hearing.
Causes of dwarfism
- Achondroplasia – people with this condition are born to parents of average height. People with this condition receive a mutated copy of the gene linked with the condition and one normal copy of the gene. A person with this condition can pass either a mutated or normal copy to his/her children.
- Turner syndrome – a condition that mostly affects girls and women, when the sex chromosome or the X chromosome is missing. A girl or women with turner syndrome has only one functioning copy of the female sex chromosome instead of two.
- A growth hormone deficiency which is due to genetic mutation or injury
- Poor nutrition
Treatment and home remedies
- When riding in a vehicle, use an infant car seat with fixed back and support for the neck, and continue using the car seat that is facing the rear to the highest weight and height and beyond the recommended age limit.
- Avoid devices that are used for infants like swings, umbrella, strollers, carrying slings, backpack carriers and jumper seat that does not support the neck or curve at the back that forms into a shape of C.
- Give support to the head of the child when he/she is seated.
- Check the child for signs of complications like ear infection or sleep apnea.
- Maintain good posture by providing a pillow placed on the lower back and a footstool when the child is sitting.
- Maintain a healthy diet in order to avoid problems like being overweight.
- Do some light exercises like swimming or bicycling and avoid sports that require collision or impact like football, diving or gymnastics.