Does precocious puberty require growth hormone treatment?

Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
Updated on September 21, 2024
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For children with precocious puberty, a small number require combined treatment with growth hormones. For instance, if a child's height growth rate is less than 4cm, it is necessary to add growth hormones to promote growth and development. The second scenario involves using a bone age test; if the height is less than 151cm, growth hormones can also be used in combination for treatment. In the third scenario, if the child's bone age at the time of consultation has already exceeded 11.5 years, has significantly increased, or even if menstruation has started and their height has been clearly affected, it is generally advised to use growth hormones in combination with treatment.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Is thigh clamping in children a sign of precocious puberty?

Babies crossing their legs is not a sign of precocious puberty. There is a clinical sign in children called "leg crossing syndrome," primarily occurring in either sex, where children experience pleasure through the friction of the skin between their legs. This condition is often a form of masturbation, seeking self-comfort and stimulation to achieve a sense of relief. Possible causes include increased secretions due to poor local hygiene, leading to babies rubbing against each other, thus manifesting a sense of sexual satisfaction. Additionally, parasitic infections can cause itching in the perineal area, leading to symptoms of leg crossing syndrome. If parents notice this behavior, they should guide the child gradually and persuasively without scolding, while also maintaining cleanliness in the affected area and enhancing education about sexuality. Precocious puberty is mostly characterized by the development of breasts and other secondary sexual characteristics, so there is a difference between the two conditions.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Does a hard lump in a child's breast mean precocious puberty?

Children's breasts have lumps, and it is indeed necessary to consider whether it is precocious puberty, but there are other conditions that can cause lumps in children's breasts. For example, cysts or other solid occupying lesions. Besides the development of secondary sexual characteristics, including the development of breasts, growth of axillary hair, and even menstruation in girls, if these secondary sexual characteristics appear before the age of nine and are accompanied by a recent rapid growth in height, then we need to consider the possibility of precocious puberty.

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Written by Gan Jun
Endocrinology
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What are the effects of precocious puberty in girls?

Premature sexual development in girls can have significant impacts on their future, with one of the most common issues being effects on height. Premature sexual development can cause bone age to advance much earlier than in peers, which can lead to premature closure of the growth plates and result in a shorter stature. Additionally, it can have profound impacts on the individual's psychological and emotional well-being, leading to issues such as low self-esteem and anxiety. Premature sexual development can also cause early breast development and early menstruation, which may lead to premature romantic relationships and other early maturation behaviors. Therefore, it has a substantial effect on both the physical and mental development of girls. For such patients, it is crucial to detect, diagnose, and treat the condition early.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Where is precocious puberty manifested?

Precocious puberty is primarily characterized by the development of breasts in girls before the age of 8, which leads to a diagnosis of precocious puberty. In boys, an increase in testicular volume and thickening of the penis before the age of 9 or 9.5 years also constitutes a diagnosis of precocious puberty. Once children show signs of precocious puberty, it is crucial to promptly take them to a hospital for the following relevant examinations to determine whether the condition is affecting the child's physical and psychological health. 1. An examination of bone age to determine if it impacts the child's height; 2. An ultrasound of the gonads to verify the severity of sexual development; 3. Under the detailed examination of a doctor, observe whether it affects the child's psychology, thereby providing further reasonable treatment based on the actual manifestations of the child.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Will daily skipping improve precocious puberty?

The purpose of daily rope jumping for children with precocious puberty is to impact their height positively, aiming for improvement. The goal of treating precocious puberty is to increase the final adult height. Due to premature sexual development, high levels of estrogen can lead to early closure of the growth plates, resulting in being shorter compared to peers of the same age after growing up. Therefore, to avoid being shorter as an adult, it is recommended in daily life that children engage more in activities that involve jumping, such as rope jumping, which can stimulate the growth plates and contribute to vertical growth in children. Daily rope jumping can, therefore, be beneficial, specifically concerning height improvement.