Abuse dwarfism syndrome

Synonyms

Psychosocial short stature
Child abuse dwarfism
Psychosocial dwarfism

Overview

Abuse dwarfism syndrome: Retarded growth, intelligence and social behavior due to child abuse. The child abuse can take the form of mental or physical cruelty or neglect.

Symptoms

  • Retarded growth
  • Retarded intelligence
  • Abnormal social behavior
  • Behavioral problems
  • Unusual eating behavior
  • Unusual drinking behavior
  • Self -starvation
  • Excessive drinking of water
  • Excessive eating
  • Vomiting
  • Social apathy
  • Social inertia
  • Defiant aggressiveness
  • Sudden tantrums
  • Crying episodes
  • Insomnia
  • Abnormal sleeping routines
  • Lack of pain sensation
  • Self-injury behavior
  • Bed-wetting
  • Fecal soiling
  • Retarded motor development

Causes

Psychological factors of emotional deprivation have been demonstrated to cause transient GH deficiency in children with PSS. Nutritional deprivation or general caloric deprivation alone is not a major causal factor. The underlying cause of this deprivation by the caregiver can be determined only after the child is removed from the home and a multidisciplinary investigation of the family environment is completed. As in many cases of child abuse and neglect, the reason for the maltreatment may never be determined nor completely explained.

Prevention

  • A history of pathologic family relationships, including unusual cruelty and neglect causes abuse dwarfism syndrome.
  • Psychiatry is the best remedy for patients suffering from mental or motor retardation.
  • Emotional deprivation and nutritional deprivation can also cause the disease.

 

Treatment

  • NIH