Question
A young girl has breast development, vaginal discharge, normal appetite, good mental state, no significant changes in height, weight, urination, or sleep. The breasts have slight bulging and firm lumps, which are painful to the touch. There has been a recent rapid growth in the body. The doctor suspects it may be precocious puberty, causing concern among the parents.
Answer
Precocious puberty typically refers to girls showing breast development before the age of 8 or starting menstruation before 10 years old; boys experiencing secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 9, accompanied by rapid physical growth. Treatment of pediatric precocious puberty with certain medications may lead to other consequences; for example, progestin derivatives can suppress the pituitary gland from producing sex hormones and delay the onset of menstruation, but their effect on delaying skeletal growth development is limited. It is recommended to avoid giving children food and snacks containing hormones, as these are significant factors contributing to precocious puberty.