With the improvement of living standards and changes in the environment, the growth and development of children has attracted more and more attention from parents. One of the topics that has attracted much attention is the relationship between bone age and precocious puberty. In this episode, we will discuss this topic in depth to help you better understand the growth and development process of children and provide parents with more scientific parenting guidance.
Topic of this issue: Can children have precocious puberty when they are older?
What is bone age
Bone age is an abbreviation for skeletal age, which is a developmental age that is derived by assessing the actual degree of development of bones compared to the standard degree of development. It is a reflection of a child's level of growth and maturity.
Bone age assessment can help understand a child's growth and development, can be used to monitor a child's growth rate, assess maturity, and help diagnose certain pediatric endocrine disorders.
Methods for assessing bone age
X-rays of the wrist area are usually taken to observe the development of bones. The doctor will determine the bone age based on the degree of development of the ossification centers in the metacarpal phalanges, wrist bones, and lower radius ulna shown in the X-rays. There are many methods to assess bone age, including simple counting method, atlas method, scoring method, and computerized bone age scoring system.
Which children need bone age checked
Children with abnormal growth and development
Children who are significantly behind their peers in height and size. If your child is shorter than his or her peers, or if he or she is significantly thinner or fatter, it may mean that there is a problem with his or her growth and development, and bone age measurement can help understand your child's growth and development.
Children with precocious puberty or delayed puberty
For example, if the breasts begin to develop significantly before the age of 8 in girls, or the testicles are significantly enlarged in boys before the age of 9 years, precocious puberty may be a condition in which bone age measurement is required to avoid premature epiphyseal line closure that could lead to height growth restriction.
Individuals who need to be assessed for growth and developmental potential
For example, athletes, dancers, etc., bone age testing can determine their bone development status and growth potential, so as to formulate a reasonable training and training plan.
Children with skeletal development disorders or related diseases
For patients such as osteochondroplasia, bone cysts, etc., bone age testing can help to understand the condition and formulate treatment plans.
How often your child's bone age is measured
Generally speaking, it is appropriate to measure the bone age of children every six months to one year. This recommendation is based on the relative stability of skeletal development and the consideration of reducing unnecessary radiation exposure.
Characteristics of skeletal development: Although the growth rate is faster during childhood and adolescence, the development of bones is a relatively stable process and does not change significantly in a short period of time. Therefore, measuring bone age every six months to one year can provide a sufficient time interval to detect observable changes in bone age.
Reduce radiation exposure: Despite low levels of X-ray radiation, the number of X-rays should be minimized for the health of your child. At this recommended frequency, sufficient information can be provided to assess the growth of the individual while minimizing radiation exposure.
Special circumstances: If the child has special conditions such as growth retardation and precocious puberty, bone age examinations may be required more frequently to identify problems and intervene accordingly.
Does a large bone age mean that it must be precocious?
Bone age is not necessarily a sign of precocious puberty. When the bone age is older, this may indicate that the child's bones are developing relatively quickly, but it does not necessarily mean that the overall growth is advanced or precocious.
Isolated bone age may be caused by a variety of reasons, such as normal phenomena, dietary factors, lack of exercise, bone hyperplasia, etc., and is not necessarily directly related to precocious puberty. To determine whether precocious puberty is present, it is necessary to consider a number of factors, including the development of reproductive organs, the growth rate of height and weight, and the timing of the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics.
Disclaimer
This article aims to popularize health science, to help you understand diseases and medications, the content of popular science can not replace the doctor's diagnosis and treatment opinions, for reference only, if you have related health problems, please consult a doctor in time.
Introduced by the doctor
Yang Wenqing
Director of the Department of Pediatrics, Chief Physician and Master's Tutor of the Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is a member of the Pediatric Professional Committee of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine, a member of the South China Collaboration Group of the Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism Group of the Pediatric Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, a member of the Pediatric Renal Rheumatology Immunoendocrinology Group of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine, an executive director of the Fujian Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a member of the Pediatric Branch of the Fujian Medical Association, a member of the Pediatrician Branch of the Fujian Medical Association, a member of the Pediatric Endocrine Genetics and Metabolism Group of the Pediatric Branch of the Fujian Medical Association, a member of the Neonatology Group of the Pediatric Branch of the Fujian Medical Association, and a vice chairman of the Pediatric Branch of the Fujian Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine。
Introduced by the doctor
Zheng Lianyu
Deputy Director and Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Pediatrics of the Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Member of the Youth Club of the Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism Group of the Pediatric Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, member of the Pediatric Renal Rheumatology Immunoendocrinology Group of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine, member of the Rare Disease Group of the Endocrinology Branch of the Fujian Medical Association, member of the United Eugenics and Eugenics Professional Committee of the World Association of Chinese Medicine, member of the Medical Technology Popularization Professional Committee of the Fujian Science Writers Association, and member of the Professional Committee of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of the Chinese Association for the Promotion of Human Health Science and Technology.