Central precocious puberty
Central Precocious Puberty
Central precocious puberty (pronunciation: sen-truhl preh-koh-shuhs pyoo-ber-tee), also known as gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty, is a condition where puberty starts too early in children. This early onset of puberty is due to the premature activation of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which leads to an increased production of gonadotropins and subsequently, sex hormones.
Etymology
The term 'precocious' is derived from the Latin word 'praecox', which means 'early ripening', while 'puberty' comes from the Latin 'pubertas', meaning 'adult hood'. The term 'central' is used to indicate that the condition originates from the central nervous system, specifically the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Symptoms
The symptoms of central precocious puberty are similar to the signs of normal puberty but they occur earlier. For girls, this can be before 8 years of age and for boys, before 9 years of age. Symptoms include:
- Breast development in girls
- Testicular enlargement in boys
- Rapid growth
- Acne
- Adult-like body odor
- Menstruation in girls
Causes
The exact cause of central precocious puberty is often unknown. However, some factors may increase the risk, including:
- Certain medical conditions such as hypothalamic hamartoma, McCune-Albright syndrome, and neurofibromatosis
- Exposure to external sources of estrogen or testosterone
- Certain genetic mutations
Treatment
Treatment for central precocious puberty typically involves medication to delay further development. The most common treatment is with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs.
See Also
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