Question
My daughter is in third grade and this week, while giving her a bath, I noticed her chest is protruding, and when I touched her breasts, there was a hard lump in the middle. She usually dislikes eating chicken and other meats, and she also consumes trace elements for digestion and health. What are the manifestations of precocious puberty in an 8-year-old girl?
Answer
The appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in an 8-year-old can be somewhat related to their regular dietary habits. A high intake of protein can lead to an increase in hormone levels within the child’s body. However, the development of secondary sexual characteristics does not necessarily mean the child has precocious puberty. If you are concerned, you can take your child to a pediatric hospital or women and children’s health care center for a bone age check. As long as the bone age does not significantly differ from the normal age, it is usually not diagnosed as precocious puberty.