Small lumps in the child's breast

What causes precocious puberty in children?

1. Central precocious puberty

Also known as true precocious puberty, it is caused by the premature activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis and the pulse secretion of GnRH. In addition to the development of secondary sexual characteristics, the affected children also have development of ovaries or testicles.

2. Idiopathic precocious puberty

Also known as constitutional precocious puberty, it is caused by the decreased sensitivity of the hypothalamus to the negative feedback of sex hormones, resulting in the premature secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. It is more common in females, accounting for more than 80% of CPP in girls, while in boys it is only about 40%.

3. Secondary precocious puberty

Common central nervous system abnormalities include: ① tumors or space-occupying lesions: hypothalamic hamartoma, cyst, granuloma ② central nervous system infection ③ acquired injury: trauma, postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy ④ developmental abnormalities: hydrocephalus, optic septum dysplasia, etc.

4. Other diseases

Primary hypothyroidism.

5. Peripheral precocious puberty

Also known as pseudo-precocious puberty. It is precocious puberty caused by hypothalamus-pituitary and gonadal function. Secondary sexual characteristics develop and sex hormone levels increase, but the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis is immature and there is no gonadal development.

6. Partial precocious puberty

Simple premature breast development, simple premature pubic hair development, simple early menarche.

Clinical manifestations of precocious puberty in children

It manifests as breast development, enlargement of the labia minora, estrogen-dependent changes in vaginal mucosal cells, enlargement of the uterus and ovaries, appearance of pubic hair, and menarche. When accompanied by central nervous system diseases such as intracranial tumors, there may be headache, vomiting, vision changes or other neurological symptoms and signs.

The relationship between children's precocious puberty and social environment

The true cause of many cases of precocious puberty cannot be identified. The formation of precocious puberty is a complex process and may be related to the entire social environment.

1. Nutritional improvement. Thanks to social progress, family living conditions have become better, nutrition has improved, diseases have decreased, and children's growth and development have shown an accelerated trend, leading to earlier sexual development and an increase in sexual maturity.

2. Environmental pollution. Industrial pollution is increasing in today's society, and food also contains a large amount of pesticide or hormone pollution. These pollutant residues, after passing through the skin or directly eaten, are a cause of precocious puberty in children.

3. Foods containing hormones. Many poultry meats nowadays contain large amounts of hormones. Some sex hormones can indirectly enter the human body and cause precocious puberty in children. It is not recommended to let children consume large amounts of highly fried foods, including fast food and barbecue.

4. Blindly taking supplements. "Supplements are one of the main causes of precocious puberty in children." Some parents often give their children health supplements that increase appetite, improve intelligence and strengthen the brain. Little do they know that these supplements often contain hormone ingredients. Long-term use can cause the hormone level in children's blood to rise, thus leading to precocious puberty in children.