Gigantism facts for kids
Gigantism is a rare condition where a person grows much taller and larger than most people. This happens because their body makes too much growth hormone during childhood or their teenage years. Growth hormone helps our bones, muscles, and other parts of our body grow. When there's too much of it, a child can grow very quickly and become very tall.
Contents
What Causes Gigantism?
Gigantism usually happens because of a small, non-cancerous growth (called an adenoma) on a gland in the brain called the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is like the master control center for many hormones in your body, including growth hormone. If this growth makes the pituitary gland produce too much growth hormone, a child will start to grow unusually fast.
The Pituitary Gland and Growth Hormone
The pituitary gland is a tiny gland, about the size of a pea, located at the base of your brain. It plays a super important role in your body. It controls many other glands and makes hormones that affect your growth, metabolism, and even how you feel. When it makes too much growth hormone before your bones have finished growing (before your growth plates close), you get gigantism. If too much growth hormone happens after your bones have stopped growing, it's called Acromegaly, which causes different changes in the body.
How Doctors Find and Treat Gigantism
Doctors can find gigantism by looking at a child's growth patterns and doing blood tests to check their hormone levels. They might also use special scans, like an MRI, to look at the pituitary gland in the brain.
Treatments for Gigantism
The main goal of treating gigantism is to lower the amount of growth hormone in the body. This can be done in a few ways:
- Surgery: Often, doctors can remove the growth on the pituitary gland. This is usually the first choice for treatment.
- Medicine: Some medicines can help stop the pituitary gland from making too much growth hormone or block its effects on the body.
- Radiation therapy: In some cases, doctors might use radiation to shrink the growth on the pituitary gland.
Early treatment is important. It can help prevent some of the health problems that can come with gigantism, like heart issues or joint pain.
Famous People with Gigantism
Throughout history, there have been many famous people who had gigantism. They often became well-known because of their unusual height.
- Anna Swan: Born in Canada in 1846, Anna Swan was one of the tallest women ever recorded. She was over 7 feet 11 inches (2.41 meters) tall. She traveled with circuses and was known for her kind nature.
- Daniel Cajanus: A Finnish giant born in 1704, Daniel Cajanus was also incredibly tall. He was known for his strength and was sometimes called "The Finnish Giant."
- André the Giant: Born André René Roussimoff in France in 1946, he was a famous professional wrestler and actor. He stood 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters) tall. Many people remember him from the movie The Princess Bride.
These individuals showed that even with a rare condition, people can live amazing lives and achieve great things.
Related pages
Images for kids
-
Daniel Cajanus (1704–1749), a Finnish giant
-
André the Giant, a wrestler and actor in The Princess Bride
See also
In Spanish: Gigantismo para niños
