Long ago, dwarfism could be the cause of reducing a person’s life expectancy. This has now been modified. A dwarf person can reach the same age as another who does not suffer from dwarfism.
This turn has occurred thanks to medical, endocrinological and treatment advances of this anomaly.
What is dwarfism?
Dwarfism is an anomaly characterized by possess a considerably smaller stature than expected in the species.
When is a person considered a dwarf?
Although these parameters may have variances based on a person’s race and ethnicity, they generally Men of less than 1.50 meters and women of 1.40 meters are considered to be of short stature.
It should be noted that, to establish it, the height of the parents must also be taken into account.
What are the causes of dwarfism?
There are various causes that can lead to dwarfism, but usually a distinction is made in two large groups:
- Genetic alteration: The condition is the product of a normal genetic condition of the person. This means that said person is growing as expected, as established by their genetic information.
- Health problem: The condition is the product of an alteration in the person’s health, which ends up altering their growth. This means that the height is less than what the genetic information of the person would indicate.
What diseases can cause short stature?
Within the second group of causes, that is, dwarfism caused by health problems, we can find twoThere are different types of dwarfism, depending on the pathology that generates it. Some of them are:
achondroplasia
Produces the most common type of dwarfism. It arises as a result of a disorder in the growth of the bonesgiven by an alteration of the cartilaginous tissue in the fetus.
People with this type of dwarfism usually have short limbs, a large head in relation to the rest of the body, and a broad forehead.
Cretinism
It arises from a alteration in the thyroid gland. It can be treated with early detection.
growth hormone deficiency
The endocrine function of the pituitary is altered. It can be reversed with treatment.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease can be a cause of short statureoften being this symptom the only notable one for a large part of life.
Rickets
This disease occurs due to lack of Vitamin D, phosphorus or calcium, which generates skeletal deformities and therefore can produce short stature.
What is idiopathic short stature?
Idiopathic short stature is called a short stature that There are no obvious causes. People who suffer from it have correct body proportions and It is usually attributed to a low height present in the parents.
some famous dwarves
- Lavinia Warren: She was an American-born sideshow actress who suffered from growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, also known as pituitary dwarfism. She died at 78 years of age.
- Warwick Davis: He is a 52-year-old British actor, known for acting in a large number of famous films such as Star Wars, Willow or Harry Potter. He suffers from dwarfism as a result of congenital spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, which causes him a strange bone disorder.
- Peter Dinklage: He is an American actor known for playing important roles both in film and on television, his role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones being one of the best known. He is currently 53 years old.
- Jeffrey Hudson: He was a dwarf belonging to the English court of Queen Henrietta Maria of France. He was considered a marvel due to his short stature and known as «Lord Minimus» or «the queen’s dwarf». He fought in the English Civil War with the Royalists and was expelled from court for murdering a dueling man. It is believed that he suffered from growth hormone deficiency. He died at age 63 of unknown causes.
- Charles Proteus Steinmetz: German mathematician and electrical engineer who fostered the development of alternating current which led to the spread of electric current in the United States. He died at the age of 58 and suffered from kyphosis and hip dysplasia, which gave him a height of only 1.50 meters.
- Tamara Treaux: She was an American actress and stuntwoman of diminutive stature, known mainly for being the person inside the ET alien suit, when it required movement. She died at the age of 31 from respiratory and heart problems.