Brain disorders could trigger premature onset of puberty

By JANE MUTHONI

I recently came across an interesting newspaper article that talked of a 17-month-old baby who had started developing breasts and pubic hair. As if that is not enough, she had started having menstrual periods. Initially, I brushed the article off thinking that it was mere exaggeration by the media till I saw the picture of the girl beside the article. I tried to figure out how this could be possible. The more I tried to fill the puzzle the more it became puzzling. I sought help from my friend who is a medical student. He confirmed the possibility of such a baby developing secondary sexual characteristics. He cited this case as an example of precocious puberty; the early onset of puberty. He briefly told me some of the causes.

Puberty is the process of reproductive and sexual development and maturity that changes a child into an adult. It happens any time between ages eight and 13 in girls and 9-14 years in boys.

Strong culprit

This is early puberty occurring before eight and nine years in girls and boys respectively.  It is of undetermined cause. It is common in girls.

Brain disorders involving the part regulating pubertal changes could trigger onset of this condition. The disorders include infections, tumours and developmental abnormalities. Exposure of the hormones responsible for the pubertal changes in boys (testosterone) and girls (oestrogen) respectively.

This can be from tumours secreting these hormones. They include some of ovarian tumors secreting oestrogen in girls and tentacular tumours secreting testosterone in boys.

Congenital conditions make the adrenal gland produce testosterone leading to precocious puberty and exogenous exposure to the hormones (oestrogen and testosterone). Medication is a strong culprit.