The Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at Riley Hospital for Children and IU Health Methodist Hospital are putting visitor restrictions in place starting Monday, Nov. 18th. Only visits by parents plus four designated adults identified by the parents will be allowed on the NICU floor.
Siblings and children under 18 will not be permitted. These restrictions minimize risk of infection to patients already at risk and will be in place through spring 2020.
Puberty is marked by physical changes such as growth of pubic hair, breast development in girls and testicular development and penile enlargement in boys. Boys start puberty within a wide range of ages, but most boys start puberty between the ages of 9 and 14. Girls typically develop signs of puberty between the ages of 7 or 8 and 13.
Precocious puberty in girls is when the following happens before the age of 8:
Precocious puberty in boys is when the following happens before the age of 9:
There are two types of precocious puberty:
There are two common forms of precocious puberty that do not require any treatment:
If your child is developing faster than normal, it may be due to precocious puberty. Doctors at Riley at IU Health can perform the following exams and tests to make a diagnosis:
Treatment of precocious puberty depends on if your child is diagnosed with central precocious puberty or peripheral precocious puberty:
Children going through precocious puberty may experience stress and anxiety because their bodies are developing quicker than their minds. They may be mistaken for a much older age, and this can be confusing or embarrassing.
If your child has been diagnosed with precocious puberty, treatment can slow down or delay puberty, allowing your child to grow to a more normal height.
Visit the links below to learn more about precocious puberty and discover support groups and resources.
Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.
The Pediatric Endocrine Society provides detailed information about precocious puberty.
Learn more about precocious puberty on this website by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.