Turner Syndrome
There are many possible reasons why a child may grow slowly, including: hereditary factors (short parents), diseases affecting the kidneys; heart, lungs or intestines; hormone imbalances; severe stress or emotional deprivation; infections in the womb before birth; bone diseases; and genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
The Turner Syndrome (known as Ullrich-Turner Syndrome in Germany) is a congenital disease. A German doctor named Ullrich published his article in 1930. American doctor Henry Turner recognized a pattern of short stature and incomplete sexual maturation in otherwise normal females. He published a comprehensive medical description of the syndrome. It was not until 1959, that it became clear the syndrome was due to lack of sex chromosome material. Turner's Syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder that affects one in approximately 2,500 females. Females normally have two X-chromosomes. However, in those with Turner's Syndrome, one X chromosome is absent or is damaged.
OTHER NAMES Depending on the doctor, Turner's Syndrome may be diagnosed with one of the following alternative names: 45 - X Syndrome, Bonnevie-Ulrich Syndrome, Chromosome X, Monosomy X, Morgagni-Turner-Albright Syndrome, Ovarian Dwarfism, Turner Type, among others.
SYNDROME CHARACTERISTICS A reduced growth in height is the commonest visible characteristic of the syndrome, (the average adult height is 4 feet 8 inches) and may be the only sign before puberty. Their body proportions are normal. Girls with this syndrome may have many middle ear infections during childhood; if not treated, these chronic infections could cause hearing loss. Up to the age of about 2 years, growth in height is approximately normal, but then it lags behind that of other girls. Greatly reduced growth in height of a female child should lead to a chromosome test if no diagnosis has already been made. Early diagnosis is very importance in...
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