Is Early Puberty Dangerous? This is the Explanation of the Lecturer of FK UM Surabaya

• 19 Dec
• 2022

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Is Early Puberty Dangerous? This is the Explanation of the Lecturer of FK UM Surabaya

• Article
• By Uswah Sahal
• Health
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Premature puberty is a change in a child's body to become an adult (adolescent) at an earlier age than it should be. In boys, early puberty occurs before the age of 9 years, and in girls before the age of 8 years. Early puberty causes changes in body shape and size, development of bones and muscles, and development of organs and reproduction. This condition is quite rare because it only occurs in 1 in 5000 children.

UM Surabaya Faculty of Medicine (FK) lecturer Muhammad Anas said that early puberty is triggered by gonadotropin hormones (GnRH), which are hormones that stimulate the production of the hormone estrogen in girls and the hormone testosterone in boys.

He explained that the signs of early puberty in girls occur before the age of 8 years. This is marked by breast growth and early first menstruation. While in boys, it occurs before the child is 9 years old, with signs in the form of a heavier voice, growth of the mustache, and enlargement of the testicles and penis.

"Other signs that can accompany boys and girls are the appearance of pimples on the face, growth in height becomes more rapid, and body odor changes like that of an adult," said Anas Monday (19/12/22)

Meanwhile, he mentioned other triggering factors that can increase the risk of early puberty, namely obesity, history of genetic disorders from parents or siblings, exposure to estrogen and testosterone from outside, for example through the use of creams or ointments, and radiotherapy treatment of the head or spine .

“Check with your child to the Doctor if he experiences some signs of early puberty when he is 7–9 years old or younger. The doctor will evaluate the child's condition and carry out a number of tests to determine the cause," he added.

The doctor will examine the physical changes in the child's body, as well as perform blood tests and urine tests, to check the hormone levels in the child's body. Next, the doctor will do GnRH hormone stimulation to find out the type of early puberty. In this test, the doctor takes a blood sample from the child, then injects the child with the GnRH hormone.

Anas mentioned, apart from having a different height and stature from friends of his age. Early puberty in children can also make children insecure, embarrassed, stressed because they feel different from their friends. This condition can increase the risk of depression.

"Children who experience early puberty will grow faster so that they look taller than their peers. However, this caused his bones to mature quickly and stop growing prematurely. As a result, the child's body will become shorter when he grows up, "he said.

Finally, Anas said that early puberty triggered by obesity can be avoided.

"Reducing exposure to creams or ointments that contain certain hormones can also trigger early puberty," concluded Anas.