Question
A 13-year-old girl may develop precocious puberty due to her participation in Latin dance, and she does not want to undergo treatment due to her concerns about appearance. Can precocious puberty be left untreated?
Answer
Children with precocious puberty initiate the gonadal mechanism prematurely, starting to secrete estrogen, which then promotes bone maturation and leads to early closure of the growth plates. This reduces the child’s growth potential and affects height development. Therefore, it is advisable to undergo examination and treatment at a regular hospital. Not treating it may accelerate bone age further, thereby affecting height growth.