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Precocious puberty - Treatment

Alternative Names

Pubertas praecox

Treatment:

Medications can stop the release of sexual hormones. Some tumors need to be removed with surgery.

Complications:

Children who go through puberty too early may not reach their full height because growth stops too early.

Children with early sexual development are more likely to have psychological and social problems. Children and adolescents generally want to be the same as their peers, and early sexual development can make them appear different. This can result in self-esteem problems, depression, acting out at school and home, and abuse of alcohol and illegal substances.

Calling your health care provider:

See your health care provider if:

Your child shows signs of precocious puberty
Any child with early sexual development appears to be having social problems in school

Endocrine glands

Male and female reproductive systems

Reviewed last on: 8/2/2011
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Styne DM, Grumbach MM. Puberty: Ontogeny, Neuroendocrinology, Physiology, and Disorders. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed, S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008: chap 24.

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