We have all gone through it and what a shocker it was. Do you remember? Startling, wasn’t it? Were we ready for it? Probably not. We were still babies, but it came just the same. A normal part of life, puberty struck most of us around the ages of 11 or 12 (girls) and 13 or 14 (boys). What did we know? We thought we knew quite a bit, but in fact, we really knew very little. Physically we were ready, but emotionally it was an entirely different story. Growing up was tough.
Can you imagine then what it must be like to have this happen to you at an even younger age? Precocious puberty is defined as going through puberty at an age younger than 8 years old in a girl and before the age of nine in a boy. Their bodies go through the typical pubescent changes from that of a child into an adult only at a younger than normal age. The occurrence of rapid bone and muscle changes, body shape changes, and the ability to reproduce occurs during this time. Not only is it difficult for the child to handle all of these changes when in their mind they are still children playing with their toys, it is also difficult on the parent to watch it all take place.
The cause of precocious puberty is not known. However, it can sometimes be linked with hormonal disorders, injury, tumors, or abnormalities of the brain. The symptoms are typical of puberty. The breasts will enlarge in a girl along with her first menses. The boys will have enlarged male organ growth and facial hair. Both boys and girls will experience body hair, acne, growth spurts, and/or body odor.
Precocious puberty is more common if you are a girl, of African-American descent, obese, have certain medical conditions, and/or are exposed to hormones, such as estrogen or testosterone. Complications of precocious puberty would be polycystic ovary syndrome in a girl, shortened height, and the emotional aspect of having this condition.
Children who have precocious puberty will grow at a faster rate, but will also stop growing sooner, thus having the chance of a shorter than average stature as an adult. Neither of these two complications is good, but I think the complication that is far worse is the emotional side of this condition. It steals a part of their childhood away from them and they are just not ready.
If you see that your child is developing faster than the norm you will need to make a visit to your child’s pediatrician. He or she will then refer you to an endocrinologist. A diagnosis will be made through the resulting blood tests, thyroid testing, MRI, and/or an x-ray of the hand. This x-ray will determine your child’s approximate bone age.
Medication for precocious puberty will consist of hormonal therapy to slow down the rate of growth or specific treatment for any underlying medical conditions that may be causing the much too soon onset of puberty.
The emotional side of precocious puberty is very significant. It can affect the child’s self-esteem as he or she will tend to feel different from others. Counseling for the child, as well as the parent, may need to be established to deal with all of the changes that are taking place in this young child. Emotional support is very important now more than ever.
If your child is going through puberty and you think that it is too soon you should see the pediatrician as soon as possible. Your child will need all of the love that you can give them to help them through this very difficult time in their young lives.
Angel Lynn writes in weight loss, single parenting, and health.