Desarrollo puberal normal: Pubertad precoz

Abstract

Puberty refers to the final stage of children’s growth and development in which adult height, reproductive and psychosocial maturity are reached. It is initiated in the central nervous system by neuroendocrine factors (under genetic control and environmental in- fluence) that activate the hypothalamic- pituitary-gonadal axis and its regulatory mecha- nisms. Precocious puberty is defined as the progressive onset of pubertal signs at an age mo- re than 2.5 SD below the mean of a population. It may be gonadotropin-dependent (cen- tral) or gonadotropin-independent (peripheral). Most of the cases are idiopathic, but oc- casionally the cause may be an underlying organic disease with variable severity. Treatment is recommended because of the negative effects it may have on the child’s development.