DWARFISM

Symptoms

• Average size trunk
• Short upper arms and legs
• Bowed legs
• Swayed lower back
• Height around 4 feet as an adult
• Slowed growth rate
• Short fingers with wide Sheraton between ring and middle finger

DIAGNOSIS

• Appearance- distinct facial and skeletal features
• Measurements- height, weight, and head circumference according to age
• Genetic test and family history research
• Hormone test- measure the amount of growth hormones being produced

TREATMENT

• Surgery to correct direction of bone growth
• Stabilizing and correcting the shape of the spine
• Increasing the space between the opening of the bones in the spine to alleviate pressure from the spinal cord
• Hormone therapy
• Limb lengthening
• Regular check ups

WHO GETS THIS DISEASE

• Extremely rare case- less than 200,000 cases in the U.S. per year
• Anyone can become diagnosed with dwarfism, it doesn't affect a certain gender or race

FACTS AND OTHER INFO

• Can be caused by more than 200 conditions
• Achondroplasia occurs in one out of 26,000-40,000 babies each year
• Can't be fully cured but treatments can help
• Lasts a lifetime
• Usually self diagnosable
• Warwick Dewis, Peter Dinklage, Verne Troyer, and little people big world all have dwarfism

BY JULIA BOHL