Central Precocious Puberty?

Precocious puberty (also called early or premature puberty) means a child's body begins changing into that of an adult much earlier than normal. Although normal puberty typically begins sometime between ages 10 and 14 in girls (usually around age 12) and ages 12 and 16 in boys (usually around 14), precocious puberty is considered to be before age 8 for girls and before age 9 for boys.

Most often, precocious puberty is an isolated finding without any underlying cause. This is called central precocious puberty.

Central precocious puberty

When your child's brain signals start the process of puberty earlier than normal, it's called central precocious puberty. This is the most common type of precocious puberty. Central precocious puberty occurs in about 1 in every 10,000 boys and 1 in every 5,000 girls.

Central precocious puberty is generally idiopathic, which simply means the exact cause is unknown. When a cause can be found, it's often linked to:

* Genetic mutations.

* Hormonal imbalances. In rare cases, central precocious puberty may be caused by a thyroid disorder, tumors of the adrenal or sex glands, or brain abnormalities.

* Structural problems in the brain or spinal cord. Scar tissue from previous tumors, infections in the brain and spine, or radiation therapy to the brain or spine may trigger central precocious puberty.

* Other hormone-producing disorders. These include hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and McCune-Albright syndrome.

In some children with central precocious puberty, the affected pituitary gland simply works too soon rather than in reaction to some other medical condition.

Other symptoms related to advanced development that may be seen with central precocious puberty include:

* Acne

* Growth of underarm hair

* Growth of pubic hair

* Menstrual periods (menarche) in girls

* Nocturnal emissions (ejaculation of semen during sleep) in boys

When to see a doctor

Contact your child's doctor right away if your child:

* Develops any signs or symptoms of puberty before the age of 8 (in girls) or before the age of 9 (in boys)

* Starts puberty at an appropriate age but shows a significantly accelerated rate of development

* Shows growth spurts or sudden changes in the adult development of secondary sexual characteristics (such as breasts or pubic hair), height or body odor

Early diagnosis of precocious puberty is important so that treatments to stop or slow the progression of puberty may begin if appropriate.