Precocious puberty
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Definition
Puberty is the time in life when your body changes from that of a child to an adult. It includes rapid growth of bones and muscles, changes in body shape and size, and development of your body's ability to reproduce. Puberty normally takes place in girls between ages 8 and 16 and in boys between ages 9 and 14.
Precocious puberty is when the physical changes of puberty begin before age 8 for girls and before age 9 for boys. An uncommon condition, precocious puberty occurs more often in girls than in boys. In most cases, the cause of precocious puberty is unknown. Rarely, underlying medical conditions — such as infections, hormone disorders, tumors, brain abnormalities or injuries — may cause precocious puberty.
Prompt medical evaluation of precocious puberty is important to rule out an underlying cause and begin treatment. Although treatment varies depending on the cause, it often includes medication to delay further development. In addition to medical treatment, children with precocious puberty may also benefit from psychological counseling to deal with the effects of being more sexually developed than their peers.
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