Physicians Health

Primordial dwarfism is a disease affecting infants when developing in mother’s womb.

Primordial dwarfism is a rare form of dwarfism that can be diagnosed even during pregnancy, if the fetus is unnaturally small. This condition is called intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

Other forms of dwarfism are not easy to detect. Fetuses might be of normal average sizes and the disease might start being noticed during the early years of life, like from 3 to 5 years.

Types of dwarfism vary and the most severe one is MOPD Type II. This type causes  causes vascular problems shortening child’s life span.

Another type of dwarfism is pituitary dwarfism, which is caused by lack of hormone and results in a proportionally small body, in contrast to other forms of the disease where the body is not proportionally small.

Dwarfism is not the result of malnutrition or unhealthy environment. Even if mother develops a healthy pregnancy with all the necessary vitamins, exercise and other recommended practices, the child may develop dwarfism. The main cause of this disease comes genetically and can not be protected. Genetic factors are combined with rare bone growth disorders, which result in abnormal and asymmetric growth of body parts – short legs and hands, but at the same time normal trunk and face size. The cause of the dwarfism is not known that’s why there is not special treatment for that and it’s not curable.

People with pituitary and other types of dwarfism do not suffer any disorders. They are fully functional and can work and live as everyone else does.  In the US and European countries people with this disease have the same and equal rights and they are part of the society. There is Little People of America organization where people with dwarfism mingle with others with similar conditions, share their thoughts and help each other fight the difficulties caused by the disease.

Photo © MFS – Pictures

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