Early Puberty in Adrenal Disease

Early puberty, or precocious puberty, is a condition characterized by the development of mature sexual traits in young children. A disease called congenital adrenal hyperplasia can trigger symptoms of early puberty.

The Facts

• According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, congenital adrenal hyperplasia can affect both girls and boys. It occurs when the adrenal gland fails to produce certain hormones, triggering increased output of male sex hormones.

Signs in Girls

• Signs of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in girls include deepened voice, abnormal or absent menstruation, genitalia with combined male and female characteristics and early onset of armpit and pubic hair.

Signs in Boys

• Signs of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in boys include deepened voice, enlarged penis, early onset of armpit and pubic hair and muscle development. These characteristics may appear in boys as young as two or three years of age.

Non-Classic Hyperplasia

• A less severe form of the disorder, called non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, may also develop in early adulthood or late childhood. In addition to the main signs of the disorder, the Mayo Clinic cites symptoms that include low bone density, low blood pressure, obesity and severe acne.

Considerations

• Hyperplasia can also strike newborn children, with potential symptoms including dehydration, vomiting and heart rhythm irregularities (cardiac arrhythmia).