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 Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Does drinking honey water cause early puberty in boys?

Drinking honey water will not cause precocious puberty in boys, but it is important to note that honey should only be given to children over one year old. Although honey contains certain sex hormones, the amount is minuscule and not necessarily linked to precocious puberty, as the main component of honey is sugar, which constitutes a large proportion. Other components include proteins, organic acids, and pollen. There is no report from authoritative testing that has detected animal hormones in honey. Although pollen contains a considerable amount of plant hormones, these compounds are significantly different from the hormones found in animal bodies. Thus, plant hormones do not produce hormone-like effects in the human body, nor can they cause precocious puberty in children. However, it is important to note that the sugar content in honey water is relatively high and excessive intake can lead to obesity and cause abnormal development of dental health in children, including symptoms of tooth decay.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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The difference between precocious puberty and early development

It is generally believed that the development of breasts before the age of eight in girls, and the onset of menstruation before the age of ten; in boys, the development of testicles before the age of nine, appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, and accompanied by rapid physical development, are referred to as precocious puberty. Early development refers to the situation where, before puberty, not only the sexual organs but also other organs in boys and girls begin to develop simultaneously. Therefore, precocious puberty and early development not only differ in the age of onset but also focus more on whether the sexual organs are developing in coordination with the body's other organs. The differences lie not only in the timing but primarily in whether the development of the sexual organs is coordinated with the development of the body's other organs. If the sexual organs and the body's other organs are not developing in coordination, it indicates precocious puberty. If they are coordinated, and merely occurring earlier than usual in puberty, it is considered early development.

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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.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Can you grow taller after treatment for precocious puberty?

Precocious puberty, if identified and treated early, can allow for normal height growth. Precocious puberty refers to an abnormal condition where secondary sexual characteristics develop in girls before the age of eight and in boys before the age of nine. Based on the mechanism of onset and clinical presentation, it can be categorized into central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty. The main risks of precocious puberty include shorter adult height, earlier sexual behavior, suppressed personality, and more. The primary goal of treatment is to improve the adult height of the affected child. Early detection and prompt treatment are crucial for improving the prognosis of children with precocious puberty. In addition to daily observations for signs of secondary sexual characteristics, it is also important to monitor for any sudden growth spurts in children under the age of ten.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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What should I do if precocious puberty is not treated in time?

Precocious puberty is defined as the abnormal condition where secondary sexual characteristics develop before the age of eight in girls and nine in boys. The harm of this disease includes shorter adult height, earlier sexual behavior, and suppressed personality, among other effects. The principle of treatment primarily focuses on improving the child's adult height, with treatments mainly including medication and etiological treatment. If diagnosed and treated early, the prognosis is generally good, and the final adult height can be significantly improved. If treatment is not administered in a timely manner, and the epiphyses of the bones have closed, it may not be possible to alter the final height.