What should I do if I find out my child is maturing early?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Interventional treatment for precocious puberty varies according to different causes. In principle, once diagnosed with central precocious puberty, aggressive pharmacological treatment is recommended, using inhibitory hormones to suppress development to pre-pubertal levels and inhibit further development of the ovaries and uterus. For peripheral precocious puberty or pseudoprecocious puberty, the cause must be removed. Clinically, if a child accidentally ingests their mother's contraceptive pills causing transient vaginal bleeding, it is essential to carefully inquire about the medical history, thoroughly understand the cause, and determine the treatment method. Also, ask if there has been any special dietary intake recently, including foods or drinks high in estrogen, and if so, remove the cause for treatment.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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The precocious puberty stimulation test is used to check for what?

The precocious puberty stimulation test, also known as the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test. The method of examination involves administering an intravenous injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, followed by taking blood samples before the injection, and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after the injection. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone are measured to assess their peak values. This can diagnose whether the gonadal axis has been activated and is a reliable method for diagnosing precocious puberty.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Is thigh clamping in children a sign of precocious puberty?

Babies crossing their legs is not a sign of precocious puberty. There is a clinical sign in children called "leg crossing syndrome," primarily occurring in either sex, where children experience pleasure through the friction of the skin between their legs. This condition is often a form of masturbation, seeking self-comfort and stimulation to achieve a sense of relief. Possible causes include increased secretions due to poor local hygiene, leading to babies rubbing against each other, thus manifesting a sense of sexual satisfaction. Additionally, parasitic infections can cause itching in the perineal area, leading to symptoms of leg crossing syndrome. If parents notice this behavior, they should guide the child gradually and persuasively without scolding, while also maintaining cleanliness in the affected area and enhancing education about sexuality. Precocious puberty is mostly characterized by the development of breasts and other secondary sexual characteristics, so there is a difference between the two conditions.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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What symptoms will appear in the pituitary gland with precocious puberty?

Children with precocious puberty should undergo a pituitary gland examination, which may reveal symptoms in two aspects: 1. Imaging examination such as pituitary MRI, which might uncover tumors in the pituitary gland that could lead to precocious puberty. 2. Hormone level tests, mainly involving the secretion of hormones controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. For example, the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone can cause precocious puberty. Precocious puberty is a relatively common endocrine disorder in children. Generally, it can be diagnosed in girls before the age of eight and in boys before the age of nine if secondary sexual characteristics appear.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
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Should people with precocious puberty eat fewer eggs?

Children with precocious puberty can normally eat eggs, but they should avoid eating fried foods, including chicken. It is also important to determine the cause of the child's precocious puberty, such as whether there is a hormone abnormality, for example, high levels of sex hormones, or if the child exhibits breast development, enlarged testicles, or premature growth of underarm and pubic hair, etc. It is necessary to check the child's sex hormones and growth hormones in a timely manner, including checking their bone age. If it is confirmed that the child indeed has precocious puberty, timely and targeted intervention treatments should be provided.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
50sec home-news-image

What should I do if I find out my child is maturing early?

Interventional treatment for precocious puberty varies according to different causes. In principle, once diagnosed with central precocious puberty, aggressive pharmacological treatment is recommended, using inhibitory hormones to suppress development to pre-pubertal levels and inhibit further development of the ovaries and uterus. For peripheral precocious puberty or pseudoprecocious puberty, the cause must be removed. Clinically, if a child accidentally ingests their mother's contraceptive pills causing transient vaginal bleeding, it is essential to carefully inquire about the medical history, thoroughly understand the cause, and determine the treatment method. Also, ask if there has been any special dietary intake recently, including foods or drinks high in estrogen, and if so, remove the cause for treatment.