Is thigh clamping in children a sign of precocious puberty?

Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
Updated on November 11, 2024
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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 Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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What foods can help recover from precocious puberty?

No specific food can cure the condition of precocious puberty, but it is important to avoid consuming foods high in estrogenic effects, such as dairy products, soy products, and honey, which need to be strictly controlled. Excessive intake can worsen the symptoms of precocious puberty. This includes avoiding fried foods, snacks, certain fruits, and other snacks. In everyday life, it is best to consume seasonal fruits and vegetables and maintain a balanced diet with moderate amounts of meat and eggs, which is beneficial for stabilizing hormone levels associated with precocious puberty.

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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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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
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Premature breast pain has now stopped hurting, does that mean it's healed?

When girls develop breasts before the age of eight, they may experience pain at the breast bud nodules. Pain does not necessarily mean recovery; it is possible that as the breast bud enlarges, the pain will naturally disappear. Whether treatment is needed once precocious puberty occurs and whether it has reached a level of cure mainly depends on the assessment through pediatric bone age, gonadal ultrasound examinations, or a combination of brain pituitary MRI and blood hormone levels to analyze the severity of the condition. For mild cases, with appropriate medication, diet, and exercise guidance, children can reach a basic level of clinical cure. Severe cases require the control of the child's sexual development through the injection of gonadal hormones or hormone-releasing analogues. Psychological impacts due to early sexual development may also necessitate behavioral and psychological interventions.