Short summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate children referred to the hospital due to concerns of early pubertal development. Clinical presentation at time of diagnosis is described as well as the outcome of growth, based on recent anthropometric data. Through a questionnaire, we wish to reveal the psychological implications for the child and family, caused by the early pubertal development and the treatment.

Rationale

Precocious puberty is defined as the development of secondary sexual characteristics before eight years of age in girls and nine years of age in boys. The prevalence of precocious puberty in Danish girls and boys are estimated to be 0.2% and less than 0.05% respectively.

In some children with central precocious puberty the psychosocial difficulties, inability to handle menarche or risk of reduced adult height make treatment advisable. The puberty can be temporarily paused by treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue. Only a few studies have evaluated the psychological consequences of precocious puberty at the time of diagnosis.

Description of the cohort

Children referred to the Department of Pediatrics at Odense University Hospital (OUH) and Kolding Hospital between January 2005 and December 2014 and and registered with an ICD-10 diagnosis code of precocious puberty, E22.8A or E30.1. Written informed content is obtained from participants.

Data and biological material

Hospital records are reviewed and age, stage of puberty, weight, height and targetheight at first examination at the outpatient clinic is registered as well as diagnostic procedures performed. Further is duration of treatment, dose of GnRH analogue and side-effects registered for the children treated.

Through a questionnaire the child's psychological and social development during puberty reported by both the child and the parent is evaluated. Self-assessed present-day data on height, weight, and time of menarche is provided as well.