Precocious puberty
Vismaya c p
Precocious puberty is the attainment of sexual maturity in childhood. It usually happens in girls before age 8 and in boys before age 9. In such children secondary sexual characters like the development of pubic hairs, breast development in girls, voice changes in boys etc.
There is no exact cause for precocious puberty. it may be due to several factors like genetic disorders, tumors in ovary, testicles, pituitary gland adrenal gland and brain, problems in the central nervous system, tumors releasing hormones, brain abnormalities etc
Types of precocious puberty
There are 2 types of precocious puberty
- Central precocious puberty
- Peripheral precocious puberty
Central precocious puberty
This is the most common type of puberty seen in most of the children. Early puberty is due to the secretion of gonadotrophin hormones. Hence it is called gonadotrophin-dependent precocious puberty. the secretion of these gonadotropins is due to the early development of the ovary, hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Peripheral precocious puberty
This precocious puberty is caused by the early secretion of sex hormones instead of gonadotropins hence it is called gonadotrophin-independent precocious puberty. In females, female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone are secreted and in males, male sex hormone testosterone is secreted.
Symptoms
The common symptom is the early appearance of secondary sexual characters in
Common symptoms in girls
- Early breast development
- Menstruation and ovulation begin
- Hair growth in pubic regions and in underarms
Common symptoms in boys
- Development of sex organs
- Development of facial hairs
- Production of sperms
- Development of pubic and underarm hairs
- Voice changes
Treatment
Treatment is based on the type and cause of precocious puberty. The main aim of treatment is the reversal or delaying of sexual maturation. The treatment process will only be started after identifying the correct cause of precocious puberty.
If a child having central precocious puberty, synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormones are used for inhibiting sexual maturation. synthetic gondotropin-releasing hormones inhibits the release of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland.
In peripheral precocious puberty, tumor releases sex hormones so treatment to the tumors will inhibit the release of sex hormones
Complications
Early puberty affects the physical, mental social health of the child. Children with precocious puberty grow in a faster rate when compared to their peers. this may lead to social, emotional and behavioural problems.
Development of breasts and body hair in early age may make a child more self-conscious
The bodily changes reduces the self-confidence and self-esteem of the child.
The hormones may cause many mood swings and may lead to depression and anxiety
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Check your knowledge
Precocious puberty is the attainment of sexual maturity in childhood. It usually happens in girls before age 8 and in boys before age 9
Central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty
The common symptom is the early appearance of secondary sexual characters, Common symptoms in girls include Early breast development, Menstruation and ovulation begin, Hair growth in pubic regions and in underarms. Common symptoms in boys includes Development of sex organs, Development of facial hairs, Production of sperms, Development of pubic and underarm hairs, Voice changes.
Treatment is based on the type and cause of precocious puberty. The main aim of treatment is the reversal or delaying of sexual maturation. The treatment process will only be started after identifying the correct cause of precocious puberty.
If a child having central precocious puberty, synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormones are used for inhibiting sexual maturation. synthetic gondotropin-releasing hormones inhibits the release of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland.
In peripheral precocious puberty, tumor releases sex hormones so treatment to the tumors will inhibit the release of sex hormones
Early puberty affects the physical, mental social health of the child. Children with precocious puberty grow in a faster rate when compared to their peers. this may lead to social, emotional and behavioural problems.
Development of breasts and body hair in early age may make a child more self-conscious
The bodily changes reduces the self-confidence and self-esteem of the child.
The hormones may cause many mood swings and may lead to depression and anxiety
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