Introduction
Nowadays the term “short stature” is used because of the negative connotation of the word “short stature”. This describes that a person is below the 3rd percentile of the growth rate – i.e. less than 97% of all persons in his age group. Children whose parents are also very small do not fall under this definition. If diseases such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease are still present, this definition can only be applied to a limited extent, as these diseases do not cause growth disorders if they are treated adequately.
Causes
A cause lies in the familial dwarfism. Here, the parents are either very small themselves or are themselves small. Another common cause is constitutional dwarfism.
In this case, children are slower at the beginning of puberty. Consequently, the speed of growth is reduced. In the course of puberty, however, in most cases they make up for this growth deficit.
In addition, disturbances in the hormonal household can cause dwarfism. Hypothyroidism and a deficiency of the body’s own growth hormones (GH and STH) are possible. However, psychological and social burdens on the children, such as neglect and maltreatment on a physical and psychological level, can also limit the growth of the children.
Furthermore, disturbances in embryonic development caused by alcohol, harmful substances and drugs must be considered. Chromosomal disorders and genetic diseases can also be attributed to embryonic development. The trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), the Ullrich-Turner-, the Prader-Willi- or Noonan Syndrome, among others, cause dwarfism. Genetic hereditary diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) can also cause dwarfism.
Associated symptoms
The accompanying symptoms depend on the cause of the dwarfism. If there is a familial cause, there are basically no other symptoms. If there is a delay in development, i.e. the onset of puberty is delayed, further abnormalities in physical development occur.
For example, later growth of breast, pubic and axillary hair or delayed onset of menstruation in girls. In boys, the voice breaks later and there is a lack of underarm and pubic hair. If, on the other hand, the cause lies in genetic disorders, there are often serious Belgian symptoms.
In the Ulrich Turner syndrome, girls show edema in the hands and feet at birth, they do not get menstruation and remain infertile (unable to become pregnant) due to a malposition of the ovaries, and they show malpositions and deformities in the neck, neck and upper body. In Noonan syndrome, in addition to dwarfism, there are other symptoms such as widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism), malformations of the heart and pulmonary vessels, and a slight reduction in intelligence. If mothers have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, conspicuous changes in the facial region (including narrow lip red, low forehead, abnormalities in eyelid crevices and axes) occur in addition to dwarfism.
In the presence of a brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta), there is an increased risk of bone fractures, depending on the type or extent of the disease. If mothers have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, conspicuous changes in the facial region (including narrow lip red, low forehead, abnormalities in eyelid crevices and axes) occur in addition to small stature. In the presence of a brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta), there is an increased risk of bone fractures, depending on the type or extent of the disease.
