126 chapter 13
CHILDREN WHO STAY SHORT (Dwarfism)
Parents often worry when a child does not grow as quickly as other children.
Shortness has many causes. Here we discuss only a few.
• Normal slow growth. Some children normally grow more slowly and mature
sexually later than others. If the child is normal and healthy in other ways, do not
worry. He will probably grow quickly when he begins to grow up sexually, even if
this happens as late as 15, 16, or 17 years old.
• Normal short size. When one or both parents are shorter than average, they
may have children who are also short. Shortness ‘runs in the family’ and this is
normal. Make sure the child is healthy and eats well.
• Poor nutrition. Some children do not grow normally because they do not get
enough to eat, or do not eat the food their bodies need. They may seem normal
except that they are thin, small, have big bellies, and get sick often. Or they may
lack energy, seem very unhappy, or develop swollen feet, hands, and faces.
These children need more and better food (see p. 321). They may also need
more stimulation, play, love, and attention in order to grow and develop more
quickly (see Chapter 35).
• Long-term illness or medication. Severe long illness often slows down a
child’s growth. Also, certain medicines such as cortisone or steroids for arthritis,
if given for a long time, can slow down growth and weaken bones.
• Dwarfism. Some
children are born with
a condition in which
the body does not
grow normally. There
are many different
patterns and causes.
in 1 of 5 children it is
inherited, and certain
relatives will also be
very short.
NORMAL
THREE TYPES OF DWARFISM
limbs short
for trunk
trunk short
for limbs
normal proportions,
very small size
In the most common type of dwarfism, the arms and legs are short for the
body. The head is big, the forehead bulges, and the bridge of the nose is flat. The
child often has a swayback, pot belly, and bowlegs. Hip problems, club feet, or eye
problems and hearing loss may occur.
TREATMENT
There is no medical treatment for most children who are short, including those with
dwarfism. In many countries, doctors prescribe ‘growth’ hormones to short children to
make them grow faster. These may cause some growth at first, but they soon make
the bones mature and stop growing, so that the child stays smaller than he would have
without treatment. Do not give hormones to speed growth.
Children who are very short for their age sometimes are made fun of by other
children, or get treated as though they are younger than they really are. Life can be
difficult for them and they may feel unhappy or unsure of themselves. It is important
that everyone treat them just like other children their age. CHILD-to-child activities can
help other children become more understanding (see Chapter 47).
Disabled village Children