Description

Precocious puberty is when the children's bodies begin to change in adult bodies too soon. This change is known as puberty. Most of the times, puberty occurs after the age of 8 years in girls and after 9 years of age in boys. However, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans, the children could naturally reach puberty earlier. Precocious puberty is when puberty begins too early for the child who is going through it.

At puberty, the muscles and bones to grow rapidly. Bodies change shape and size. And the body becomes able to have children.

The cause of precocious puberty often can't be found. Rarely, certain conditions, such as infections, hormone problems, brain tumors or lesions, may cause early puberty. Treatment for precocious puberty usually includes medication to delay puberty.

Symptoms

Precocious puberty symptoms include:

  • The growth of the breasts, and the first period in girls.
  • Testicle and penis, growth of facial hair and a deepened voice in boys.
  • Pubic or underarm hair.
  • Rapid growth.
  • Acne.
  • Adult body odor.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your pediatrician if your child has symptoms of precocious puberty.

Causes

To understand the causes of precocious puberty in some children, it is useful to know what happens in puberty. The brain starts the process by making a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

When this hormone reaches the small, bean-shaped gland in the base of the brain, called the pituitary gland, which leads to more estrogen in the ovaries and more testosterone in the testicles. The estrogen the female sex traits. The testosterone causes the male sex traits.

There are two types of precocious puberty: precocious puberty central and peripheral precocious puberty.

Central precocious puberty

The cause of this type of precocious puberty often not known.

With central precocious puberty, puberty begins too soon, but develops as usual. For the majority of children with this condition, there is no medical problem or another known reason for precocious puberty.

In rare cases, it can cause central precocious puberty:

  • A tumor in the brain or the spinal cord.
  • A change in the brain that is present at birth. This could be the accumulation of fluid, known as hydrocephalus, or a tumor that is not cancer, known as a hamartoma.
  • Radiation to the brain or to the spinal cord.
  • Injury to the brain or the spinal cord.
  • A rare genetic disease that affects the bones, and the color of the skin and cause hormonal problems. This condition is called McCune-Albright syndrome.
  • A group of genetic aspects, called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which involve the adrenal gland atypical choices hormones.
  • A condition called hypothyroidism in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone.

Precocious puberty peripheral

Estrogen or testosterone is made too soon makes this type of precocious puberty.

With this type of early puberty, the hormone in the brain ( GnRH), which typically causes puberty to begin with is not involved. Instead, the cause is the release of estrogen or testosterone in the body. A problem with the ovaries, the testicles, the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland triggers the release of hormones.

The following can lead to early puberty peripheral:

  • A tumor in the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland, which releases estrogen or testosterone.
  • A rare genetic disease that affects the bones, and the color of the skin and cause hormonal problems. This condition is called McCune-Albright syndrome.
  • Be exposed to creams or ointments that contain estrogen or testosterone.

In girls, precocious puberty peripheral can also be related to:

  • Ovarian cysts.
  • The tumors of the ovary.

In boys, precocious puberty peripheral can also be caused by:

  • A tumor of the cells that produce sperm or in the cells that produce testosterone.
  • A rare genetic condition called gonadotropin-independent familial precocious puberty. This can cause children, usually between the ages of 1 and 4, to make testosterone too early.

Risk factors

The factors that increase the risk of precocious puberty include:

  • Being a girl. Girls are more likely than males to have an early onset of puberty.
  • Being obese. Excess weight increases the risk of early puberty.

Complications

The possible complications of early puberty include:

  • Low rise. Children with precocious puberty may grow quickly at first and be higher than others of their age. But their bones to mature too soon. So that these children often stop growing earlier than usual. This can cause you to be shorter than the average adult.
  • Social and emotional problems. Children who begin puberty long before others his age might be annoyed by the changes in their bodies. For example, dealing with the earliest periods can cause distress. This might affect the self-esteem and increase the risk of depression or use of illegal drugs or alcohol.

Prevention

No one can avoid some of the risk factors for precocious puberty, such as sex and race. But there are things that can reduce the chances of children precocious puberty, including:

  • Keep anything that contains estrogen or testosterone, away from children. These may include the prescription of medication for adults or diet supplements.
  • Encourage the children to stay at a healthy weight.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of precocious puberty consists of:

  • The review of the child and of the family of the medical records.
  • By doing a physical exam.
  • Run blood tests to measure hormone levels.

X-rays of children's hands and wrists are also useful in the diagnosis of precocious puberty. These X-rays can show if the bones are growing too fast.

Find the type of precocious puberty.

A test called a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test helps identify the type of precocious puberty.

The test involves taking a sample of blood, then give the child an injection that contains the GnRH hormone. More blood samples taken over a period of time show how the hormones in the body of the child to react.

In children with central precocious puberty, GnRH, a hormone which causes the levels of other hormones to rise. In children with precocious puberty peripheral, the levels of other hormones remain the same.

Other evidence of central precocious puberty

  • Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. This imaging test can show whether the children who have central precocious puberty is the brain of the issues that are causing the early onset of puberty.
  • Thyroid testing. This test can show if the thyroid gland is not making enough thyroid hormone — a condition called hypothyroidism. The test could be used with children who have symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, the reaction to the cold, starting to do poorly in school or have pale, dry skin.

Other evidence for precocious puberty peripheral

Children with precocious puberty peripheral need more tests to find the cause of your condition. This could include more blood tests to check hormone levels or, in girls, an ultrasound to check for an ovarian cyst or tumor.

Treatment

The main goal of treatment is for the children to grow up to adult height.

Treatment for precocious puberty depends on the cause. However, when no cause is found, treatment may not be necessary, depending on the age of the child and the speed of puberty is moving. Observe the child for several months, could be an option.

The treatment of central precocious puberty

This usually involves medication called GnRH analogue therapy, which delays further development. You can be a monthly shot with the medicine, such as leuprolide acetate (Lupron Depot), or triptorelin (Trelstar, Triptodur Kit). Or some new formulations may be administered at longer intervals.

The children continue to receive this medicine until you get to the custom of the age of puberty. After the treatment is stopped, puberty starts again.

Another option for treatment of central precocious puberty is a histrelin implant, which lasts up to a year. This treatment does not involve injections monthly. But it involves a minor surgery to place the implant under the skin of the upper arm. After a year, the implant is removed. If necessary, a new implant to take their place.

The treatment of an underlying medical condition

If another medical condition that is causing precocious puberty, stop puberty means the treatment of this condition. For example, if a tumor makes hormones that cause early puberty, puberty usually stops after removing the tumor.

Coping and support

Children who begin puberty early can feel unlike other children his age. There are few studies on the emotional effects of puberty. But puberty can lead to social and emotional problems. One of the results of that could be having sex at an early age.

Counseling can help families to better understand and manage the feelings and the problems that can arise with precocious puberty. For answers to questions or to get help finding a counselor, talk to a member of its team of professionals.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your child's primary care provider. Or you may be sent to a specialist in the treatment of hormone-related conditions in children, known as a pediatric endocrinologist.

Here is the information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that your child needs to do in advance, such as not eating for a couple of hours. Bring a copy of your child's growth trajectory, whether you're watching a new health care provider who has no medical history of your child.

Before the appointment, talk with your child about what to expect. Make sure that your child understands that the event is most likely to include an examination of the genitals and breasts.

Make a list of:

  • The symptoms of his son , and when he noticed your presence. Include any that doesn't seem linked to the reason of the appointment.
  • Key personal information, such as the major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All the medications, vitamins, or other supplements that your child takes, including doses. Make a note of what other people in the house, to take too much.
  • Make a list of the members of the family' heights, noting that if any of them are short and adults.
  • Your family medical history, noting if any of the members of the family have had a precocious puberty problems or endocrine.
  • Questions to ask your child's doctor.

For precocious puberty, some questions may include:

  • What is likely causing my child's symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What evidence does my child need?
  • It is this condition likely to go away or is going to be long-term?
  • What is the best treatment?
  • When should you start the treatment, and how long will it last?
  • My child has other health conditions. How can we best manage them together?
  • There is something that my son can't eat or do?
  • Do you have brochures I can take home? What sites do you recommend?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions about:

  • When puberty began for the others in the family.
  • Makeup Racial family.
Symptoms and treatment of Precocious puberty