this process from 9 to 15, but the epidemic accelerated it. They’re still adolescents socially and emotionally.”
Pandemic stress has put children through a lot. So many changes have been experienced in their lives, including adjusting to a new way of life and mourning over pandemic victims.
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Can This Be An Indicator To Other Health Issues?
Researchers have studied early puberty causes. Puberty usually has no evident medical explanation, although occasionally a tumor or illness is to blame (such as hypothyroidism or a genetic disorder). Cancer radiation treatment may cause early puberty too. Examples:
- Genealogy. Early puberty may be caused by genetic changes, although it can also occur spontaneously.
- Obesity. Body fat impacts hormone usage. Obese females enter puberty sooner than normal-weight girls, but according to research, their periods didn’t start early.
- Chemicals. Exposure to sex hormone-containing lotions or ointments may cause early puberty. Some studies demonstrate that hormone-disrupting substances like phthalates affect puberty.
- Adoption. Experts say they didn’t receive adequate nourishment as children and acquired weight fast after being adopted.
There’s typically nothing wrong when a female starts puberty before eight years old. They’re just slightly early average. Puberty shouldn’t be rushed. It’s not like a baby walking or talking early.
Early puberty considerations:
- Stature. Early puberty may make children shorter than typical as adults. A kid stops growing after puberty. Your child may be taller than their friends, but they may stop developing early and be shorter as adults.
- Mental health. Your child may feel uncomfortable socially or with their physique due to early puberty. They may feel guilty and be teased by friends. They may also have mood issues. According to research, early puberty females are more likely to suffer mental health issues like depression as adults.
- Risk of cancer. Early periods may expose females to more sex hormones, increasing their risk of breast and endometrial cancer.
Regular checks may help you determine whether your kid needs medical attention. The doctor monitors your child’s growth at each appointment and may inform you about any differences.
Is There A Way To Avoid Or Prevent It?
The diagnosis determines therapy. An endocrinologist may advise parents depending on their child’s age, the pace of maturation, height and predicted future height, test findings, and the presence or absence of underlying problems.
You may be instructed to watch your youngster for a few months. The doctor will address puberty-causing conditions if found. Precocious puberty should end if a tumor that causes early puberty is removed.
If it doesn’t work, your kid may be given a GnRH analog to halt sex hormone production. Puberty is then delayed. The endocrinologist provides the injection monthly or quarterly (depending on the medication).
Your child takes the drug till puberty begins. Under-arm implants are another option. A yearlong implant gently delivers medication and no more injections after the simple surgery to put it in (to be repeated in a year).
GnRH-treated children may have mood swings, acne, or a period during the first six weeks of medication, but these will subside. After stopping the medicine, puberty starts again in 12 to 18 months. Between visits, growth and hormone levels should be monitored.