Early puberty: Children are at risk of stunted growth and psychological and physiological difficulties.
Recently, the media has reported on a significant increase in cases of precocious puberty in children, with some children as young as 6-8 years old showing signs of puberty, causing concern among many parents.
According to MSc-BSCKI Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Department of Endocrinology, FV Hospital, precocious puberty is a condition where children show signs of puberty at an earlier age than normal, specifically before the age of 8 for girls and before the age of 9 for boys.
Many 8-year-old girls have already shown signs of puberty.
PHOTO: FREEPIK
"Signs of precocious puberty include rapid height growth, acne, hair growth, mood swings, and body odor... Girls develop breasts and start menstruating. Boys experience voice changes, testicular and penile development, and ejaculation. Statistics show that the rate of precocious puberty in girls is four times higher than in boys," Dr. Huong said.
Most cases of precocious puberty have no identifiable cause, with a small percentage due to pituitary tumors, hormonal disorders, or genetics. Despite the fast-paced modern lifestyle, several factors have been identified as contributing to precocious puberty in children: obesity, unbalanced diets, poor food quality, environmental pollution, and psychological and physiological issues.
Precocious puberty is not just a matter of "growing up before age," but it negatively impacts children's physical and mental health. "First, there's the issue of height. The early appearance of sex hormones causes cartilage to rapidly ossify into bone, leading to rapid bone lengthening and a significant increase in height during this period. Once the cartilage is completely ossified, the ends of the bones close prematurely, and children stop growing taller around age 12 for girls and 15 for boys," Dr. Thu Huong explained.
Furthermore, the appearance of vaginal discharge and the subsequent onset of the first menstrual cycles in girls, as well as the increase in testicular size and ejaculation in boys, at such a young age, when children lack the awareness and skills to care for their own genitals, increases the risk of developing genital diseases.
"When children's bodies develop at such a young age, they are more susceptible to abuse, which can lead to tragic consequences. In addition, changes in their psychological and physiological development lead to changes in temperament: anger, anxiety, and physical differences from their peers, which can cause depression and autism," Dr. Huong stated.
According to MSc-BSCKI Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Department of Endocrinology, FV Hospital, precocious puberty negatively affects a child's development.
Treating precocious puberty requires a comprehensive strategy.
When parents notice signs of precocious puberty in their children (girls experiencing breast tenderness before age 8 and boys experiencing voice changes before age 9), they should take them to an endocrinologist, especially a pediatric endocrinologist, for examination.
The Endocrinology Department at FV Hospital has over 15 years of experience in diagnosing and treating precocious puberty. First, children are examined by endocrinology specialists. The doctors perform necessary examinations to make a diagnosis: breast and abdominal ultrasound to assess the uterus and ovaries in girls, testicular ultrasound in boys, and hand X-rays to provide information on bone age.
Next, the child undergoes a static blood test to assess sex hormones and tests to identify any underlying causes, such as prolactin levels, thyroid function, and betaHCG-secreting tumors. If the static blood test shows low sex hormone levels and the imaging results suggest ongoing puberty, the child will undergo a diphereline stimulation test to confirm the diagnosis. Finally, a pituitary MRI is performed to rule out any tumors, a mandatory step before deciding on puberty suppression treatment.
Hand X-rays provide information about bone age.
PHOTO: FREEPIK
When diagnosed with precocious puberty, children will receive puberty-suppressing treatment through injections, repeated every 1-3 cycles. "The goal of puberty-suppressing treatment is to optimize height at adulthood," Dr. Huong explained. The treatment plan will be thoroughly discussed with the parents after each follow-up visit.
After stopping inhibitory treatment, it takes 6 months to 1.5 years for the puberty cycle to restart. By the time puberty begins again, children will have reached their optimal height growth, with girls gaining 15-20 cm and boys gaining 20-25 cm.
To treat precocious puberty in children, FV Hospital employs a multidisciplinary approach, coordinating endocrinologists and obstetricians/gynecologists to guide parents and children on sexual health care, and providing psychological support to address psychophysiological issues when necessary.
Dealing with precocious puberty: Closely monitor your child's development.
To prevent precocious puberty, parents should provide their children with a balanced diet rich in minerals, vitamins, protein, and fiber, while limiting fast food, sugary foods, and fatty foods, combined with a reasonable exercise regimen.
Obese children are at risk of early puberty.
PHOTO: FREEPIK
Most cases of precocious puberty are idiopathic, so parents need to be knowledgeable about the first signs of puberty. In fact, when a girl experiences her first menstrual cycle or a boy experiences nocturnal emissions, it means that puberty is almost complete, but these are not signs of entering puberty.
Dr. Huong advises that it is important to promptly detect the first signs of puberty onset and take children to the right endocrinologist for examination. This will ensure that children receive a diagnosis as early as possible and that appropriate, multidisciplinary treatment plans can be developed for each individual.
To have your child examined and receive advice on the treatment of precocious puberty, parents can contact the Endocrinology Department, FV Hospital or by phone: (028)35113333.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tre-co-bieu-hien-day-thi-som-cha-me-can-phai-lam-gi-185250423172818638.htm
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