How does dwarfism manifest in infancy?

Dwarfism also needs to be observed and understood during infancy. Generally, mothers should pay attention to it before delivery. During pregnancy, some screening can be done to rule out certain specific diseases, and the child's physical development during infancy should be observed at the same time.

1. Prenatal check-up

It is possible to find out if your baby has dwarfism while you are pregnant, but it is uncommon. Because the vast majority of people with this condition are born with the average height of their parents. During pregnancy, doctors do not pay special attention to the problem of short stature in children. Prenatal testing is also difficult because there are so many causes of dwarfism.

If you think your child has some risk of dwarfism, you can request screening during pregnancy to rule out specific disorders. For example, if you notice a family member has a condition similar to Turner syndrome, you might ask your obstetrician to do a prenatal checkup for it.

2. Infants and young children

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common time a child is diagnosed with dwarfism is as an infant or young child. As part of a child's exam, your doctor will measure your baby's height, weight, and head circumference. These measurements are then compared with data from other babies of the same age. If your child's numbers are significantly below average, that could alert your pediatrician, who may order further testing or ask you to monitor your child's growth closely.

Some types of dwarfism can also cause children to look slightly different, which may also attract the attention of doctors. For example, certain facial features or limbs are out of proportion. If your doctor suspects dwarfism, he or she may order hormone tests, genetic testing, or X-rays to get a better look at your child's bones so they can make a correct diagnosis.

3. Short stature

In many cases, short stature is the only problem people with dwarfism face, according to Little People in America. Their intelligence is normal and their average life expectancy is not affected in any way. The most common problem is spinal stenosis, where the opening to the spinal cord is too small to fit within the spine. This situation requires surgery.