Zhu Haizhen, listed in the Great Guinness World Records as the world's shortest female grown-up, has grown four centimeters taller after two months of taking Chinese traditional medicine.
Born in October 1984 in Gao'an, a city in east China's Jiangxi Province, Zhu was confirmed as "the world's shortest female grown-up" by the Shanghai-based Great Guinness World Records in 2004 former height of 79 centimeters.
Zhu suffered from a serious illness when she was one year old which stunted her growth in later years. When she was 20, she was only 79 cm tall and weighed 10 kg. With short arms and legs, Zhu could only toddle like a baby.
In January 2005, Zhu was taken to the Nanjing Gulou Chinese Medicine Hospital in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. She was diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism, a rare disease that occurs in less than one in 100,000 people. The hospital promised free treatment for her.
In the next two months, Zhu took traditional Chinese medicine prescribed by the hospital but did not undergo surgery. After two months of treatment, Zhu reached 83 cm and gained four kilograms in weight.
Zhu said that she is satisfied with her current height and willnot receive further treatment.
"I am much happier to see her walking improved." said Hu Liying, Zhu's grandmother.
(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2005)
