Question
A 10-year-old child is approximately 10 centimeters shorter than children of the same age, grows only 1 to 4 centimeters per year, and recently discovered small hard lumps in the breasts, which are painful when touched. The parents inquire whether treatment is necessary.
Answer
Individual differences are common during a child’s growth and development process. If a child begins breast development around the age of 9 and the breasts are only in the initial stage of development (the breasts can be felt like coin-sized breast buds on both sides), this falls within the normal range. During the breast development stage, due to the enlargement of the breast buds, tenderness is a common symptom, and parents should not be overly concerned. As long as a child is healthy without any issues, there is no need for excessive intervention. It is recommended to conduct a trace element test for the child to take more effective treatment measures upon confirmation.