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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Dwarfism is short stature that results from a genetic or medical condition. Dwarfism is generally defined as an adult height of 4 feet 10 inches or less (147 centimeters). The average adult height among people with dwarfism is 4 feet (122 cm).

Treatments for most dwarfism-related conditions don't increase stature but may lessen complications.

People with dwarfism may encounter discrimination. Family support, social networks, advocacy groups and adaptive products enable most people with dwarfism to address challenges in educational, work and social settings.

Symptoms
References
  1. Dwarfism: Frequently asked questions. Little People of America. http://www.lpaonline.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=84634. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  2. Wright MJ, et al. Clinical management of achondroplasia. Archives of Diseases in Childhood. In press. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  3. Canale ST. Osteochondrosis or Epiphysitis and Other Miscellaneous Affections. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.:Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50032-5--cesec54&isbn=978-0-323-03329-9&sid=1176248236&uniqId=263706808-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50032-5--cesec59. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  4. Hypochondroplasia. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hypochondroplasia. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  5. Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=spondyloepiphysealdysplasiacongenita. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  6. Diastrophic dysplasia. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=diastrophicdysplasia. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  7. Hypopituitarism in children resulting in short stature. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/sec13/ch161/ch161d.html. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  8. Learning about Turner syndrome. National Human Genome Research Institute. http://www.genome.gov/pfv.cfm?pageID=19519119. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  9. Achondroplasia. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=achondroplasia. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  10. Richmond EJ. Diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 3, 2011.
  11. Horton WA, et al. Achondroplasia. The Lancet. 2007;370:162.
DS01012 Aug. 27, 2011

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