Do you think your child may be entering early puberty? How can you be sure? Don’t be alarmed; early puberty need not necessarily be a cause for concern. By being informed of what it is and its physical and psychosocial changes and effects, you can understand why it’s happening, and also know how to deal with it effectively.
What is it?
Also known as Precocious Puberty, early puberty is when puberty occurs at an unusually young age. Normally, kids’ bodies start developing both emotionally and physically during adolescence, through growth spurts and strengthened bones. This is usually between the ages of eight and 13 years old (girls), and nine and 14 years old (boys).
But, what do you do if your six year-old son or daughter starts demonstrating early signs of puberty? An early onset can be health-related and the sign of a current or future illness and this can be emotionally and physically challenging for your child.
The two kinds of Early Puberty
Central precocious puberty is more common, and normal puberty occurs early. Gonadotropins, hormones released by the pituitary gland in the brain, stimulate the testicles or ovaries to create other sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen.
Peripheral precocious puberty (precocious pseudo-puberty) differs, and is rarer (triggered by estrogen and testosterone, but doesn’t involve the brain and pituitary gland). Normally the ovaries, testicles, an adrenal gland or an abnormally underactive thyroid gland are affected.
The signs and symptoms
Puberty in both girls and boys is displayed through acne, body odour, growth spurts, and pubic and/or underarm hair. Girls’ breasts develop, and they start to menstruate, while boys experience a deepened voice, and growth of facial hair, the testicles, scrotum and penis. These are all normal indicators of puberty, but if they happen at an earlier age and stage, they are considered premature.
Numerous kids demonstrate ‘partial’ precocious puberty, in which bodily changes are not necessarily linked to sexual development. Mostly, these kids don’t need treatment, and the other expected signs of puberty occur at a normal age.
What causes it?
Precocious puberty affects more girls than boys. Early puberty could be food-induced, and Body Mass Index plays a role. There is a possible link between obesity in young girls leading to an increased risk of precocious puberty.
Exposure to chemicals in the environment and family stress could be contributing factors, but in many cases of central precocious puberty, causes in girls can be unknown, but occasionally a medical problem or genetic inheritance prompts it in boys; for instance, early puberty can be inherited from a son’s father or maternal grandfather.
Sometimes, precocious puberty originates from a brain structure problem, such as a tumour, brain injury from head trauma, or even an infection such as meningitis. Puberty could start early due to a problem in the ovaries or thyroid gland. Most girls who start puberty too early have no medical problems, and the reason is therefore unknown.
What can be done about it?
A paediatric endocrinologist (a specialist in growth and hormonal disorders in children), can assess whether further tests (blood and urine, for high levels of sex hormones) are required. X-Rays can be taken to view bone maturation in the wrist and hand, while CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds can be performed for possible cancer risks such as tumours in the brain, breasts, ovaries, endometrium and testicles.
Occasionally, treating a related health problem can stop premature puberty. In most cases, no other disease causes premature puberty, so effective medicine (hormone therapy) can lower the high levels of sex hormones and stop or reverse the progress of sexual development, and rapid growth and bone strengthening. However, many kids whose bodies mature early don’t require treatment at all.
How does one deal with it?
Don’t hesitate to discuss your child’s emotional development with a healthcare professional for help and advice. It’s important to be sensitive to these challenges, and your child needs to understand that what’s happening in his or her body are normal changes for older children and teenagers. His or her body has started to develop a bit too early, and there are things that can be done to help them.
Premature puberty need not be viewed as a scary medical diagnosis, and the good news is that it can be treated. The most important thing you can do is to help your child to have a positive self-image and self-esteem, by supporting them in all areas of their lives and not only focussing on their appearance or comparing them to other kids their age.
Date Published: 25 May 2018
