PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY IN CHILDREN: HOW TO PREVENT?

Precocious puberty is not a new problem, however, in recent years, the number of children with precocious puberty has rocketed with unspecified reasons causing parents’ confusion and worry.

► What is precocious puberty in children?

Puberty refers to excessive increase in a child’s height, changes of body shape and sexual characteristics of adults. Normal puberty begins between the ages of 8 and 13 years in girls and 9 to 14 years in boys.

Precocious puberty is a happening that a child's body starts to change into an adult's body earlier than usual. Signs of puberty commence before age 8 in girls and age 9 for boys are considered as precocious puberty. Including:
 

► How does precocious puberty influence on children?

According to Dr. Truong Da Uyen – Endocrinologist, Head of Outpatient Department in AIH, actually children with early puberty will have great harm which not only affect psychological problems but also their overall health.

• Height restrictions: Children with precocious puberty may initially grow faster than their peers. However, because their bones mature more rapidly than normal, theycan lose 6-7cm height compared to their parents' genetic height.
• Psychological effects: The body and physical appearance of children with early puberty will develop quickly, unlike their peers.  These can easily make children feel embarrassed, stressed, sensitive and fear of being discriminated by peers, sometimes vulnerate self-esteem and depression in children.
• Stimulant abuse: Children who have puberty from a very young age often fall into the trap of drugs or stimulants. As a result, smoking and drinking are common problems among children with precocious puberty.
• Early sexual intercourse: Early psychophysiological development will lead to sexual desires. However, children are too young and their thoughts is immature, so they are easily exploited by bad guys.
• Other risks: Some studies show a link between early puberty and malignant tumors in boys and risk of breast cancer in girls later. However, there is not much evidences about this.

► Causes of precocious puberty

Most of cause is unknown. However, there are some factors increase the risk of precocious puberty, including:

• Girls are more likely to develop puberty earlier.
• Obese: Children with significant overweight are risked to start puberty ealier.
• Exposure to reproductive hormones from outside. For example, using creams or ointments containing estrogen or testosterone, or other substances contain these hormones (drugs or s dietary upplements that help to build up muscle)
• Precocious puberty is  a possible complication of McCune-Albright syndrome or congenital adrenal hyperplasia - a condition associated with abnormal production of male hormone (Testosterone).
• Precocious puberty can also be caused by untreated hypothyroidism in children.
• Have received central nervous system radiotherapy. Radiation treatment for tumors, leukemia, or other conditions may increase the risk of precocious puberty.

► How precocious puberty is prevented?

• Precocious puberty is an issue that needs to be taken seriously because of its considerable harmful effects on children.
• Therefore, parents need to take some precautions of precocious puberty such as:
• Applying the lifestyle 3 INCREASE - 3 DECREASE for children that are: Increase in entertainment - motion - sleep time. Decrease in industrial foods – spending on the computer, phone - study pressure.
• Maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of precocious puberty and other conditions associated with obesity and overweight, such as type 2 diabetes.
• Avoid using prescribed hormone pills, dietary supplements, or other products which may contain estrogen or testosterone without doctor's recommendation.

Maintain a scientific diet with a full of food groups. Pay attention to increase green vegetables, fruits, limit eating processed foods such as canned foods, sausages, butter... If parents detect that their children have the signs of precocious puberty, parents should take their child. Doctor visit is advised as soon as possible to be screened and consulted for appropriate treatment.

► Treatment

The main goal of precocious puberty treatment is to help your child getting tall normally as well as to limit the negative psychological and social effects on the child.

Treatment measures depend on the causes. The causes of precocious puberty usually cannot be identified, but it can be effectively treated by monthly injection of GnRH analogues, which delays puberty in children. Children continue to receive this medicine until they reach to normal puberty. Averagely, 12 to 16 months after treatment discontinued, children’s puberty process and reproductive function turn to normal.

Additionally, treating potential diseases also helps preventing the child from precocious puberty onset.

► Support

You can start seeking medical support by consulting with pediatricians or endocrinologists.

What can parents prepare for doctor visit?

• Write down your child's symptoms.
• Write down the key personal details, including stress, anxiety, recent changes in your child's life.
• List all the medications, vitamins, supplements administered by your child or other family members - as your child might have approached to them.
• Make a list of the heights of family members, especially those are short in adult.
• Record your family medical history and notice if anyone  has precocious puberty or endocrine disorders.
• Bring your child's growth chart if available.
• Write down the questions you wish to ask.

The Endocrinology Department at American International Hospital (AIH) provides comprehensive care and treatment for diseases related to endocrine and hormone dysfunctions. Therein, endocrinologists who are highly - proficient, dedicated and well- experienced, always closely collaborate with other specialits (collaborate with pediatricians for precocious puberty) in order to ensure accurate diagnosis and offer the most appropriate treatment for each patient.