Off topic - anyone dealing with early adrenarche/puberty in a boy?

[gottabekiddin]

Apologies for being off topic, but this is rare and I would love to hear from anyone dealing with this in a boy under 9 (or thereabouts). If you would like to maintain some semblance of anonymity (I understand!) please feel free to PM me.

Basically DS 8, has some signs and is under the care of an Endocrinologist. They talk very much about medical (chemical) changes but I am keen to learn about others' experiences and about any emotional changes observed, impact on behaviour, learning, and school life and whether you chose to medicate or not.

Obviously, this is far more common in girls.

[bodiddly]

Excuse my ignorance but what are the symptoms?

[gottabekiddin]

Well, you would know if you were dealing with it! Body odour, hair growth etc.

[EarlyIntheMorning]

My DS has had body odour since he was 7, he's 9 now, but no other symptoms

[gottabekiddin]

Yes, since 7 here too! Wearing deodorant since 7 - when he remembers! If he does n't we all know about it! Have you had your DS checked out? Does he appear more moody? Tired?

[sanam2010]

I was reading about it the other day / it is becoming more and more common in the West and they blame hormones and additives contained in meat and dairy. Apparently it can be reversed by adapting a vegan diet - if that not realistic at least try to go in that direction. Google dr alejandro junger.

[EarlyIntheMorning]

I was shocked when it happened but just kept an eye on things and as there were no other signs, I did not feel the need to mention it to the GP. I did however switched to organic milk, and actually noticed that it does make a difference. If I was stricter and go vegan like sanam has mentioned, I'm sure I would notice it even more but like I said, there are no other signs of early puberty so DS just uses a natural deodorant and everyone's happy.

[bodiddly]

Deodorant here too, but an increasing number of his school friends are the same. They are 8 going on 16!

[Theas18]

Have a hug OP.

I assume your medics have checked your DS out fully? I had this with DD2 and I understand a pathological cause is much more likely in boys than girls.

8 is very young. I guess the impact on final height is a real concern for boys? DD had her bone age monitored . In the end she wasn't medicated and is short but so is eldest DD who was " normal" .

DS had a really quite early normal puberty. His voice broke at 12. I don't remember it really being a problem to be honest at any point though. He was and is tall!

With DD and early puberty we just dealt with things as they arose. In many ways it wasn't tricky as she was young enough just to take in facts and not be embarrassed by them. Shes 14 now and by crikey the mood swings seem to have been lifelong though ( however I wonder if some are put on for effect now!). We read awful things about associations between precocious puberty and sexual behaviour/learning impairment etc but none have been an issue at all.

I guess at 14 the only annoyance we have left from the stressful times of early puberty is the " but you might still grow" that well meaning adults mention every now and then- no she wont and we have medical evidence her growth plates are fused and were years ago!

[gottabekiddin]

Well relieved to know we are not alone! I keep expecting full blown puberty any day, but maybe I can relax a little.

[gottabekiddin]

Theas, thanks for your support! X posted! Your thoughts are very much along the lines of mine and what we have been told about growth etc. Fortunately, DS is very tall already, taller than you would expect looking at his parents! Bones have not started to fuse yet, but not been xrayed for a year.

No pathological cause that the medics could find. He became very moody as he entered year 1; in my wildest dreams, I did not imagine this could be the cause. Seems to have settled down a bit now. Well behaved at school. Yes, I heard about the learning impairments too, but thankfully the reverse seems to be the case with DS.

[AbbyR1973]

It is important to be aware that there are 2 distinct conditions here. Premature adrenarche is the isolated development of body hair (pubic/ axillary) and sometimes body odour as well. There is NO development of other secondary characteristics eg breast development in girls and testicular enlargement/penile growth in boys. It is not treated. Precocious puberty is different- there is full development and growth spurt early as well, starting before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. Since growth completes with puberty, there is a risk of short stature so endocrinologists may recommend treatment if picked up early enough. Separate conditions and as many have said both need properly investigating.

[gottabekiddin]

Thanks Abby, have communicated with you by PM. At the moment we are just talking premature adrenarche; my fear is that we will move into puberty soon and the hospital are looking to discharge us! I have said nooooo........he is not 9 yet.

[Rejaneiro]

Hi, I know this is an old post but since this subject is hard to find I am wondering if you discovered anything else. My son is having gis dhea levels high since ha was four because I insisted the doctor to do a blood test but she is not concerned. After all these years besides the body odor the only think that I am very concerned is about his weight gain and fat. He normally eats healthy and don't justify why he is gaining weight. Thanks!!

[Ragdollyannie]

I'm pleased I found this thread! Even the old info is useful and came up in a google search. My DS is 6 in February and has had body odour for over a year now. Pubic hair growth in last 6 months and is in the 99th percentile height range.
His gonads are 2cm which means he's not in puberty therefore I believe the doc is looking into PA as next cause. We have had bone scan and blood tests but no results yet.
What does worry me is the possibility it cold be Cushings or CAH or even adrenal tumours. I try to focus on PA.
I was doubting myself for months over telling the doc or my husband about my concerns for my son but I thought who cares if I'm neurotic. I'm glad he's being checked out.