Here are the signs to notice if a child suffers from precocious puberty and evaluate together with the pediatrician whether or not it is appropriate to start drug therapies.
“Precocious puberty” indicates the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 8 years in females (breast development) and 9 years in males (increase in testicular volume).
It is usually accompanied by a growth in height with development of long bones, then of the lower and upper limbs, due to the excessive and anticipated production of sex hormones. One of the consequences of precocious puberty can be a height, as adults, lower than normal. The boy or girl with precocious puberty, moreover, could present some manifestation of psychological or relational discomfort, feeling different from peers.
It can happen, in the case of precocious puberty, to find other signs in children, such as the appearance of pubic hair (and axillary) or vaginal discharge in girls (even before real menstruation), as well as small discomforts such as acne or oily hair. Nocturnal erections and pollution may also occur in males.
What causes?
The changes in puberty are related to the production of gonadotropins, hormones produced by the pituitary gland that stimulate the functionality of the testicles and ovaries.
Generally precocious puberty is not linked to the onset of diseases, but there may be a family predisposition.
In some cases the cause of precocious puberty may be a disease of the testicles, ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland or brain. In rare situations it can be linked to tumors or certain genetic diseases.
Diagnosis
If a parent notices signs of early pubertal development, a pediatric visit should be requested as soon as possible.
The doctor will check a possible family predisposition (if there have been other cases in the family) and how long the signs of development have developed, also checking the child’s growth curve, which is usually accelerated.
If deemed appropriate, the pediatrician may request endocrinological tests, including blood tests, x-rays or ultrasounds.
Are there therapies?
Usually the pediatrician and the specialist prescribe drugs that are able to block the production of hormones produced by the pituitary, but the therapy must always be decided on a case-by-case basis.
In fact, it is not always necessary to prescribe drugs: it is the task of the pediatrician to identify, through clinical evaluation, some investigations and, if necessary, a brief monitoring, the forms to be treated, avoiding an unnecessary excess of pharmacological prescription.
If necessary, treatment should be started as early as possible, to ensure better results even in adulthood, both in terms of height and in terms of safeguarding reproductive functions.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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