Patient's question:
My daughter's breast development, discharge in the genital area, appetite is generally okay, and her spirits are still okay. There haven't been significant changes in her height, weight, urination, defecation, or sleep. She noticed her breasts are slightly swollen, with a hard lump in her left breast that causes pain when pressed. Recently, her body has been growing rapidly, and the doctor questioned if it might be precocious puberty. I'm very worried.Doctor's answer:
Generally, it is believed that girls show breast development before the age of 8 and experience menarche before the age of 10; boys develop secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 9, accompanied by accelerated physical growth, which is referred to as precocious puberty. Using certain medications to treat childhood precocious puberty often leads to other consequences, such as progesterone derivatives, which can repeatedly suppress the pituitary's production of sex hormones. This can delay the onset of menstruation, but it has little effect on delaying bone growth and development. It is generally recommended not to feed children hormone-containing foods or snacks, as these are important factors contributing to early maturation.