Can you grow taller after treatment for precocious puberty?

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Precocious puberty, if identified and treated early, can allow for normal height growth. Precocious puberty refers to an abnormal condition where secondary sexual characteristics develop in girls before the age of eight and in boys before the age of nine. Based on the mechanism of onset and clinical presentation, it can be categorized into central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty. The main risks of precocious puberty include shorter adult height, earlier sexual behavior, suppressed personality, and more. The primary goal of treatment is to improve the adult height of the affected child. Early detection and prompt treatment are crucial for improving the prognosis of children with precocious puberty. In addition to daily observations for signs of secondary sexual characteristics, it is also important to monitor for any sudden growth spurts in children under the age of ten.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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Does precocious puberty require growth hormone treatment?

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 Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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How can precocious puberty be treated? Is it reversible?

Precocious puberty has many causes, including genetic factors, conditions during the mother's pregnancy, or congenital pituitary abnormalities, all of which can lead to the condition. When precocious puberty occurs, it is necessary to conduct diagnostic tests including MRI of the pituitary in the head, bone age assessment, ultrasonography of the gonads, and blood hormone level measurements to determine the appropriate treatment. Mild cases can be managed through a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, and rest. In some cases, oral Chinese medicine can be used if blood hormone levels are not severe enough to require other treatments, to help control the child’s sexual development. In severe cases, such as when a child's bone age is more than one year above their actual age, accompanied by abnormal blood hormone levels and changes in gonadal ultrasound, and significant loss in height, it may be necessary to administer injections of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs to control the level of sexual development. If there is a significant loss in height, it may also be necessary to combine this with growth hormone injections to treat growth.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Will babies drinking soy milk lead to precocious puberty?

Soy milk is a rather nutritious food, containing rich plant protein and phospholipids, as well as vitamins B1, B2, and folic acid. Additionally, it contains iron, calcium, minerals, and other nutrients, making it an exceptional source of nutrition for children. It is generally fine for babies to drink soy milk in moderation as it can supplement various nutrients in the body. However, it should not be consumed in excess, as some studies have indicated that excessive consumption of soy milk could lead to pseudoprecocious puberty, which refers to early breast development. But, this is only pseudoprecocity, so there is no need for excessive worry. At the same time, attention should also be paid to other aspects of the diet, such as not consuming too many beverages and avoiding out-of-season vegetables.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

Can you grow taller after treatment for precocious puberty?

Precocious puberty, if identified and treated early, can allow for normal height growth. Precocious puberty refers to an abnormal condition where secondary sexual characteristics develop in girls before the age of eight and in boys before the age of nine. Based on the mechanism of onset and clinical presentation, it can be categorized into central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty. The main risks of precocious puberty include shorter adult height, earlier sexual behavior, suppressed personality, and more. The primary goal of treatment is to improve the adult height of the affected child. Early detection and prompt treatment are crucial for improving the prognosis of children with precocious puberty. In addition to daily observations for signs of secondary sexual characteristics, it is also important to monitor for any sudden growth spurts in children under the age of ten.

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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.