Question
A nine-year-old girl is showing obvious breast development and the onset of menstruation. She has been diagnosed with precocious puberty at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hohai University. The parents are concerned about this, as the doctor has indicated that it may affect the child’s height. The parents hope to understand how to effectively treat precocious puberty to promote the child’s height growth and reduce the impact on their development.
Answer
The treatment of precocious puberty typically focuses on early intervention and control to promote height growth and minimize the impact on a child’s development. Precocious puberty is more common in females, often occurring sporadically, with a ratio of about 4:1 between females and males. Familial precocious puberty may be caused by chromosomal degeneration or sexual genetics. The development sequence of female precocious puberty usually includes breast development, pubic hair growth, the onset of menstruation, the appearance of labia minora and pubic hair, as well as an increase in vaginal discharge. In males, signs such as testicular and penis development, increased skin creases on the scrotum, and penile erection may occur before the age of nine.