What symptoms will appear in the pituitary gland with precocious puberty?

Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Children with precocious puberty should undergo a pituitary gland examination, which may reveal symptoms in two aspects: 1. Imaging examination such as pituitary MRI, which might uncover tumors in the pituitary gland that could lead to precocious puberty. 2. Hormone level tests, mainly involving the secretion of hormones controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. For example, the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone can cause precocious puberty. Precocious puberty is a relatively common endocrine disorder in children. Generally, it can be diagnosed in girls before the age of eight and in boys before the age of nine if secondary sexual characteristics appear.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Manifestations of precocious puberty in an 11-year-old boy

If an 11-year-old boy exhibits precocious puberty, it typically manifests as increased testicular volume and thickening of the penis, along with the development of pubic and axillary hair. In more severe cases, there may also be the growth of facial hair, voice changes, and the appearance of an Adam's apple, among other signs of male sexual organ development. In cases of very advanced precocious puberty, such as full maturity, nocturnal emissions may also occur. If we consider that an 11-year-old boy is exhibiting early signs of puberty, we can take him to the hospital for bone age and gonadal ultrasound examinations. Based on the initial diagnosis, if sexual development is deemed premature and the symptoms are pronounced, further tests such as blood hormone levels can be conducted. With assistance from diagnostic aids like bone age, gonadal ultrasound, and hormone levels, a doctor can guide appropriate intervention treatments to prevent issues associated with precocious puberty, such as significantly shorter adult stature.

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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 Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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The difference between precocious puberty and early development

It is generally believed that the development of breasts before the age of eight in girls, and the onset of menstruation before the age of ten; in boys, the development of testicles before the age of nine, appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, and accompanied by rapid physical development, are referred to as precocious puberty. Early development refers to the situation where, before puberty, not only the sexual organs but also other organs in boys and girls begin to develop simultaneously. Therefore, precocious puberty and early development not only differ in the age of onset but also focus more on whether the sexual organs are developing in coordination with the body's other organs. The differences lie not only in the timing but primarily in whether the development of the sexual organs is coordinated with the development of the body's other organs. If the sexual organs and the body's other organs are not developing in coordination, it indicates precocious puberty. If they are coordinated, and merely occurring earlier than usual in puberty, it is considered early development.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Will eating oysters cause early puberty in children?

Children eating oysters will not lead to precocious puberty, because oysters mainly contain protein and the trace element zinc. Precocious puberty is primarily caused by the intake of hormone-like foods, which disrupts the endocrine function in children, especially sex hormones such as estrogen and androgen. Oysters do not generally contain hormones, so there is no necessary connection between eating oysters and precocious puberty. However, it should also be noted that although oysters are nutritious, they are not suitable for excessive consumption because they are seafood products, and overeating may cause allergies or symptoms of indigestion. For precocious puberty, it is mainly about avoiding the intake of high-calorie foods and hormone-like foods in daily life, especially some out-of-season foods and the use of cosmetics containing hormones, which can all lead to precocious puberty.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Can precocious puberty be inherited by children?

Precocious puberty may have a hereditary factor, but it is not very typical. This means that if the parents experienced early puberty or development, their children might also potentially display early signs of puberty or development, but it is not a certainty. Children with precocious puberty typically refer to those who undergo sexual development too early, which can affect their height or their sexual development. This usually impacts their adult height. If parents show signs of early puberty or development, we need to closely monitor the sexual development of their children, observing the development of the nipples in girls and the development of the testicles and penis in boys.