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What is Central Precocious Puberty?
Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) is a condition characterised by early onset of puberty symptoms in children. If the signs of puberty appear before eight years of age in girls and before nine years of age in boys, they should be evaluated for underlying conditions like CPP.
What are its main signs and symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of CPP are same as that of natural puberty. However, these are observed at a very early age. The common symptoms of puberty in girls are:
- Breast development
- First menstrual cycle
The common symptoms of puberty in boys are:
- Growth of testicles and penis
- Muscle development
- Deepening of voice
- Growth spurt
- Facial hair
The common symptoms in both girls and boys are:
- Acne
- Pubic and body hair
- Growth spurt
What are its main causes?
The cause of CPP is not yet found. Rarely, some conditions can rarely lead to CPP. These are:
- Brain infections
- Hormonal disorders
- Brain injuries or anomalies
- Tumours of the pituitary gland
- Exposure of brain to radiation like in cancer
How is it diagnosed and treated?
If you observe the symptoms of puberty at a very early age in your child, consult a doctor. The doctor will perform a physical examination and may recommend the following tests to confirm the condition and its causes:
- Urine test and blood test to determine the hormonal levels in the body. High level of hormones suggests the onset of puberty. The level of hormones will also help the doctor in diagnosing whether it is central or peripheral precocious puberty.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scanning are used to scan the brain to identify any defect in the brain. X-ray technology is used to determine if the bone growth in the child is normal. MRI, CT scan, and X-ray are recommended to find the cause of CPP.
- Other tests like bone age determination by a DEXA scan and pelvic ultrasonography are recommended to confirm CPP in girls.
Treatment depends on the age of onset of the condition. If the age of onset is very close to the normal age, then no treatment is needed. But in case of very early onset, the treatment involves:
- Stopping of progression of the secondary sexual characteristics by using gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist drugs
- Medications to stop menses in girls
- Treating the cause of the condition
