Precocious puberty occurs when a child's body starts the process of sexual development earlier than usual. Here's a breakdown of its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention methods:
Some factors can cause precocious puberty, including abnormalities in the brain, such as tumors or injuries to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, which regulate hormones. Precocious puberty can also be caused by genetic disorders, hormone exposure, or environmental toxins, or it may occur without a known cause (idiopathic precocious puberty).
It is characterized by secondary sexual characteristics such as the development of breasts in girls (before age 8) and the growth of facial hair in boys (before age 9). In addition, rapid growth, acne, body odor, pubic or underarm hair growth, voice changes, and menstruation may be signs of precocious puberty.
Symptoms of precocious puberty are diagnosed by a healthcare provider after a thorough assessment of growth, development, and secondary sexual characteristics. Hormone levels can be measured with blood tests, including luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen (in girls), and testosterone (in boys). To evaluate the brain and rule out underlying abnormalities, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered.
A treatment plan for precocious puberty depends on its underlying cause and may include medications that suppress puberty hormones and slow down sexual growth. To delay puberty progression, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH) are commonly used to suppress pituitary hormone production. The underlying cause of precocious puberty may be addressed in cases where it is caused by a medical condition or tumor.
There may not always be a way to prevent precocious puberty, especially when it is caused by genetics or unknown factors. However, reducing hormone or environmental toxins may help lower the risk. By detecting and treating underlying medical conditions or brain abnormalities that can lead to precocious puberty early, complications associated with early sexual development can also be avoided.
