Precocious puberty is when a child's body begins changing into that of an adult (puberty) too soon. Puberty that begins before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys is considered precocious puberty.
Puberty includes rapid growth of bones and muscles, changes in body shape and size, and development of the body's ability to reproduce.
The cause of precocious puberty often can't be found. Rarely, certain conditions, such as infections, hormone disorders, tumors, brain abnormalities or injuries, may cause precocious puberty. Treatment for precocious puberty typically includes medication to delay further development.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Precocious puberty signs and symptoms include development of the following before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys.
Make an appointment with your child's doctor for an evaluation if your child has any of the signs or symptoms of precocious puberty.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
To understand what causes precocious puberty in some children, it's helpful to know what causes puberty to begin. This process involves the following steps:
Why this process begins early in some children depends on whether they have central precocious puberty or peripheral precocious puberty.
Central precocious puberty
There's usually no identifiable cause for this type of precocious puberty.
In central precocious puberty, the puberty process starts too soon. The pattern and timing of the steps in the process are otherwise normal. For the majority of children with this condition, there's no underlying medical problem and no identifiable reason for the early puberty.
In rare cases, the following may cause central precocious puberty:
Estrogen or testosterone in your child's body causes this type of precocious puberty.
The less common peripheral precocious puberty occurs without the involvement of the hormone in your brain (Gn-RH) that normally triggers the start of puberty. Instead, the cause is release of estrogen or testosterone into the body because of problems with the ovaries, testicles, adrenal glands or pituitary gland.
In both girls and boys, the following may lead to peripheral precocious puberty:
In girls, peripheral precocious puberty may also be associated with:
In boys, peripheral precocious puberty may also be caused by:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
To diagnose precocious puberty, the doctor will:
X-rays of your child's hand and wrist also are important for diagnosing precocious puberty. These X-rays can help the doctor determine your child's bone age, which shows if the bones are growing too quickly.
Your child's doctor will also need to find out which type of precocious puberty your child has. To do so, he or she will perform a test called a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) stimulation test, and then take a blood sample. In children with central precocious puberty, this hormone will cause other hormone levels to rise. In children with peripheral precocious puberty, other hormone levels stay the same.
Other tests also are necessary for children with peripheral precocious puberty to find the cause of their condition. For example, the doctor may run additional blood tests to check other hormone levels or, in girls, he or she may do an ultrasound to check for an ovarian cyst or tumor.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Possible complications of precocious puberty include:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Some of the risk factors for precocious puberty, such as sex and race, can't be avoided. But, there are things you can do to reduce your child's chances of developing precocious puberty, including:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Children who begin puberty early may feel different from their peers. Although there are few studies on the emotional effects of precocious puberty, it's possible that feeling different can cause social and emotional problems, including early sexual experimenting. As a parent, you also may have trouble dealing with your child's early development.
If you, your child or other members of your family are having difficulty coping, seek counseling. Psychological counseling can help your family better understand and handle the emotions, issues and challenges that accompany precocious puberty. If you have questions or would like guidance on how to find a qualified counselor, talk with a member of your health care team.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Factors that increase a child's risk of precocious puberty include:Â
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
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