Answer:

Precocious puberty is a condition where the physical characteristics and hormonal changes of puberty appear earlier than normal, specifically before 8 years of age in girls and before 9 years of age in boys.

In girls, signs of puberty include breast development, pubic hair appearance, rapid height growth, acne, changes in body odor, and early menstruation. In boys, common manifestations are enlarged testicles and penis, growth of pubic, armpit, or facial hair, voice changes, rapid height increase, and muscle development.

Your 7-year-old daughter, weighing 45 kg, with breast development and menstruation, is diagnosed with precocious puberty. You should take her to a pediatric specialist for an examination to determine the cause and establish a suitable treatment plan.

A doctor will assess the onset of puberty signs, the rate of height and weight gain, bone age, and order hormone tests. Girls typically undergo a uterine-ovarian ultrasound and a hand X-ray to determine bone age. In some cases, a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is needed to rule out central nervous system abnormalities.

The causes of precocious puberty vary depending on gender and the age of symptom onset. Central precocious puberty occurs when the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activates prematurely. Possible causes include brain tumors, central nervous system damage or radiation exposure, genetic syndromes (such as McCune-Albright syndrome), hydrocephalus, hypothyroidism, or congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Many cases are idiopathic (of unknown cause).

Peripheral precocious puberty happens when the body produces abnormal levels of sex hormones (estrogen or androgen) from the ovaries, testicles, or adrenal glands without brain activation. This condition often links to tumors, hormone-containing medications, or metabolic disorders.

Master, Doctor, First-Degree Specialist Hap Tien Loc advises parents at Tam Anh General Clinic District 7. Illustration: Clinic provided.

If precocious puberty progresses rapidly or affects adult height, children may receive puberty-blocking medication through monthly or quarterly injections. Some cases linked to pituitary disease, brain tumors, or other endocrine abnormalities require special intervention.

The decision to stop treatment is individualized based on biological age, bone age, potential side effects, and family consent. After treatment cessation, the body resumes sex hormone production, and normal puberty continues. Girls typically resume menstruation after about 6-18 months.

Many parents believe that children with precocious puberty will grow taller as adults due to rapid early height gain. However, sex hormones also cause bone growth plates to mature and close earlier, risking a shorter adult height if not monitored and treated appropriately.

To reduce the risk of precocious puberty, parents should provide children with a balanced diet, preventing overweight and obesity, especially in girls. Children should avoid early use of cosmetics or unsafe plastic products and canned goods, which can impact the endocrine system.

Parents should encourage children to increase physical activity, get enough sleep before 10 p.m., and offer psychological support as their bodies change. If signs of precocious puberty appear, children need immediate examination for timely intervention.

Master, Doctor, First-Degree Specialist Hap Tien Loc

Pediatric Unit

Tam Anh General Clinic District 7