Does a hard lump in a child's breast mean precocious puberty?

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang

Pediatrics

Updated on September 02, 2024

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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 Zeng Hai Jiang

Pediatrics

38sec

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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 Quan Xiang Mei

Pediatrics

1min 18sec

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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 Quan Xiang Mei

Pediatrics

1min 17sec

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How can precocious children reduce estrogen levels?

Once children are diagnosed with precocious puberty, which usually refers to girls developing breasts before the age of 8 and boys showing signs of secondary sexual characteristics such as increased testicular volume and penile thickening before the age of 9, the method to reduce estrogen depends on the severity of the precocious puberty. This includes whether it affects the child's height and the maturity level of the sexual organs, as well as taking into account the estrogen levels at the time of examination for treatment. Mild cases usually do not require medication and can be addressed through dietary and exercise interventions. For moderate cases where hormone levels in the blood have not reached a severe state and there is some loss of height but not to the extent that requires treatment through injections, oral Chinese medicine can be used to reduce estrogen levels. In severe cases, where there is significant change in height, sexual organs, and high hormone levels in the blood, medication such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs can be used to control the child’s sexual development.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei

Pediatrics

48sec

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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.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei

Pediatrics

1min 21sec

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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.