A dwarf is a person of short stature - under
4' 10" as an adult. More than 200 different conditions can cause dwarfism.
A single type, called achondroplasia, causes about 70 percent of all dwarfism.
Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that affects about 1 in 15,000 to 1 in
40,000 people. It makes your arms and legs short in comparison to your head and
trunk. Other genetic conditions, kidney disease and problems with metabolism or
hormones can also cause short stature.
Dwarfism itself is not a disease. However,
there is a greater risk of some health problems. With proper medical care, most
people with dwarfism have active lives and live as long as other people. Another major cause of dwarfism is growth
hormone deficiency. If left untreated,
growth hormone deficiency will lead to short stature and delayed puberty.
Growth hormone deficiency may occur with
deficiencies of other hormones, including the following:
-- Thyrotropins
(control production of thyroid
hormones)
-- Vasopressin
(controls water balance in the body)
-- Gonadotropins
(control production of male and female sex hormones)
-- Adrenocorticotrophic
hormone or ACTH (controls the adrenal gland and its production of cortisol,
DHEA, and other hormones)
2. 1
Overview
A dwarf is a person of short stature - under
4' 10" as an adult. More than 200 different
conditions can cause dwarfism.
A single type, called achondroplasia, causes about
70 percent of all dwarfism.
3. 2
Overview
Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that affects
about 1 in 15,000 to 1 in
40,000 people. It makes your arms and legs short
in comparison to your head and
trunk. Other genetic conditions, kidney disease
and problems with metabolism or
hormones can also cause short stature.
4. 3
Overview
Dwarfism itself is not a disease. However,
there is a greater risk of some health problems.
With proper medical care, most
people with dwarfism have active lives and live as
long as other people. Another major cause of
dwarfism is growth
5. 4
Overview
hormone deficiency. If left untreated,
growth hormone deficiency will lead to short
stature and delayed puberty.
Growth hormone deficiency may occur with
deficiencies of other hormones, including the
following:
7. 6
Overview
(control production of male and female sex
hormones)
-- Adrenocorticotrophic
hormone or ACTH (controls the adrenal gland and
its production of cortisol,
DHEA, and other hormones)
