Warning signs of early puberty

The abuse of drugs, cosmetics containing hormones, foods containing growth hormones... is the cause of early puberty in children.·

Precocious puberty (PBS) is considered one of the "diseases of the times", according to which the age of puberty in children does not follow the rule of "girls at 13, boys at 16" as before but has been shortened, for girls it can start at the age of 8 and for boys at the age of 9. Many studies show that the abuse of drugs, cosmetics containing hormones, foods containing growth hormones... is the reason why PBS children increase rapidly.

Increase in early puberty

DTS is a very alarming condition. At the National Children's Hospital, every day there are 6-7 cases coming for examination and treatment of DTS. Many families are both crying and laughing when seeing their children in this condition.

8-year-old TNM (Hanoi) has a muscular body, is taller than his peers, has a deep voice, has acne on his face, and grows pubic and armpit hair. The doctor concluded that he has DTS, and if not treated, he will lose the opportunity to grow taller when he grows up.

Or like D. A in Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, B. L in Vinh Phuc, just over 2 years old, already has developed mammary glands and has menstruation.

Symptoms

DTS is considered a stage of physiological development of the body, usually lasting 3 - 5 years. Based on abnormal manifestations in boys before the age of 10 and before the age of 9 in girls, it is considered DTS.

Currently DTS is divided into two types: real DTS and fake DTS.

+ True DTS has brain activation, due to brain tumors, brain damage, brain atrophy, epilepsy.

+ Pseudo-DTS (idiopathic) are causes not due to the effects of sex hormones from the pituitary gland causing ovarian cysts, testicular tumors...

Children with DTS often show signs of very rapid growth, with height development ranging from 7 - 15 cm/year.

In girls, the breasts are abnormally enlarged, possibly on one side, and there is increased vaginal secretion. Menstruation occurs before the age of 8. Pubic and axillary hair appears before or after breast enlargement.

For boys, deep voice, acne, strong muscles, pubic hair, mustache, testicular volume increases over 4ml, penis is large, long, dark.

Serious consequences

For children with early DTS, if not detected and treated promptly, it will leave serious consequences. Many parents, when seeing their children showing signs of DTS, are even proud to see their children have a more muscular body than their friends. In these cases, when they reach adulthood, the children will certainly be shorter than the standard height because sex hormones stimulate bone growth, causing the bone ends to close early, preventing the child from growing taller.

In addition, DTS also causes children to have emotional and psychological crises. Children are always confused, worried and self-conscious about their bodies. A serious consequence that psychologists warn about is that children with DTS are often curious and imitate adults, leading to unwanted pregnancies.

Food "doping" causes early puberty

Recently, the media has reported on a type of Chinese milk containing growth hormones that cause early puberty. Not only that, many foods such as meat, fish, beef, sprouts, etc. are grown and processed by people who abuse food and fertilizers containing growth hormones to help animals grow quickly. When children eat them, this is also one of the causes of DTS.

The Center for Nutrition Examination and Counseling (National Institute of Nutrition) recorded that many 9-10 year old children who came for obesity examination had already shown signs of DTS such as menstruation, breast development... although their psychology and physiology were still very childish. The cause may be that obese children eat too much protein and fat, leading to early bone ossification, increased secretion of sex hormones early... From there, DTS children develop height early and will also stop growing earlier than normal children.

According to experts' recommendations,Children should not be given products containing preservatives, colorants, etc. such as canned foods, sweets, fatty foods, greasy foods, etc. because preservatives have effects similar to sex hormones, increasing DTS..

Substances similar to sex hormones can be hidden in flavorings, colorings, preservatives, artificial protein enhancers, etc. In Europe, colorants (phthalates) are currently banned, because if used in high concentrations, milk will have effects similar to sex hormones, causing phenomena such as DTS.

Pathological DTS is very difficult to prevent, so it is necessary to increase recommendations and education so that parents and children can better understand the stages and signs of physiological development of the body. As for DTS caused by food and the environment, it can be prevented. Therefore, parents need to give their children a reasonable and hygienic diet, not to feed them too much fat, protein, foods with preservatives, colorants, etc. In addition, avoid obesity due to overeating. When children show signs of DTS, they need to be quickly taken to medical facilities for timely advice and treatment.

According to Health & Life - NT