More kids in Singapore are experiencing early puberty, some as young as five years old. We find out what’s behind this trend and the implications for your child’s health.
When Sarah (not her real name) was six years old, she was taller than her peers and had larger than normal breasts.
Her mother simply pinned this down to genetics and body fat. “We didn’t realise these were signs of early puberty. We thought she was just growing up too quickly,” said Mrs Lim (not her real name).
Sarah was diagnosed with early, or precocious, puberty during a Health Promotion Board check-up when she entered primary school.
When she was referred to a paediatrician in hospital for further check-ups, Mrs Lim was surprised and read up on early puberty after the consultations. She said it was a condition that was rarely discussed, much less known.
Paediatricians say they are seeing more children like Sarah who are reaching puberty early, most likely because parents are becoming aware of it.
Early puberty is when a child’s body begins changing into that of an adult too soon. It results in rapid growth, changes in body shape and size, and the development of the ability to reproduce.
At the National University Hospital (NUH), where Sarah is a patient, the number of children who have the condition has risen from seven in 2009 to 22 last year.
“Puberty is like a volcano which hasn’t erupted. It is normally under inhibition, until the child reaches a certain age when the inhibition forces are lifted,” says Dr Cindy Ho, a consultant at NUH’s division of paediatric endocrinology.
WHY SO EARLY?
Early puberty begins before the age of eight in girls and nine in boys.
The two main causes are central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty, Dr Ho says.
This story is from the November 2017 edition of Young Parents Singapore.
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This story is from the November 2017 edition of Young Parents Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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