Puberty, Pediatrics FAQ

Understanding Menstruation and Growth Plate Concerns in Children

Menarche and its relation to growth plates? My daughter has just entered fifth grade and seems to be experiencing signs of menarche. I've heard that this could mean her height will no longer increase. Is this true? She is currently about 145 cm tall. Does she need to see a W...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If precocious puberty occurs (defined as the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in females before age 8, such as breast development and the emergence of pubic and axillary hair; or menstruation before age 10), adult height may be shorter than average. If there is no p...

Understanding Breast Pain in Young Girls: When to Seek Medical Advice

The chest of my younger daughter? Hello Dr. Pei, My 8-year-old daughter has been complaining of pain in her left breast for the past week, and it hurts when pressed. Upon examination, I found a hard lump smaller than a one-dollar coin on the left side, while the right side appea...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: Breast development generally begins during puberty (typically between ages 10 to 14), classified by Tanner stages: I: Development has not yet started, the areola is less than 2 cm, and breast tissue cannot be palpated. II: The breasts begin to protrude, the areola graduall...

Understanding Early Puberty in Boys: What Parents Should Know

Puberty in boys Your son is currently 10 years and 2 months old and has developed fine, sparse pubic hair, along with noticeable changes in the size and length of his penis. He is 148 cm tall and weighs 45 kg. Is this situation normal? Should I take him to a doctor for a bone age...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If a child shows "obvious" secondary sexual characteristics and experiences a rapid increase in height before the age of 8-9, it may indicate a condition known as precocious puberty. It is generally considered normal for children over the age of 10. In Taiwan, foods hig...

Is Thymic Hypertrophy Serious in Infants? Key Concerns and Insights

Is a protruding chest line serious? Hello Doctor, DD is now 5 months old. When he was a little over 1 month old, he was hospitalized for pneumonia with a fever of 39 degrees Celsius for a week at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. He had a follow-up appointment a week after discharge,...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Elaine, The thymus is one of the glands in the human body where some bone marrow cells mature. It is located at the upper part of the sternum, between the two lung lobes, and beneath the thyroid gland. As a person ages, the thymus gradually shrinks, but it still retains its...

Understanding Allergies and Asthma in Young Children: A Parent's Guide

Allergic asthma in children? Dear Doctor, I would like to inquire about my child's allergies and asthma issues. I am currently abroad and have a two-and-a-half-year-old child who has been experiencing cold symptoms since the beginning of the year. Initially, he had a persis...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Persistent cough in children that lasts a long time and is difficult to resolve is most commonly caused by respiratory allergies. The key to using allergy medications is that they should only be prescribed by an "experienced" and "specialized" pediatric allerg...

Long-Term Medication Effects on Children's Liver and Kidney Health

Will long-term medication use have an impact? Hello, doctor. My daughter is five years old and has a history of asthma, nasal allergies, and persistent runny nose. She has been coughing with phlegm, so she has been taking cold medication. Recently, she has had issues with fluid i...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The key point is that it is safe to follow prescriptions issued by experienced and specialized pediatric allergists and immunologists, as they will not harm the body. In fact, excessive concern and failure to cooperate with a professional physician can worsen the situation (for i...

Can Children Safely Consume Royal Jelly for Immunity?

Can children consume royal jelly? My 3.5-year-old son has allergic rhinitis and is prone to catching colds. I am considering giving him royal jelly to boost his immune system. I found some information online stating that young children can consume it, but there are also sources t...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: According to the literature on honey, its medical benefits are as follows: Honey contains not only glucose and fructose but also various vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Because honey is composed of simple sugars like glucose and fructose, it can be directly absorbed b...

Does Masturbation Cause Precocious Puberty in Boys?

Male puberty There is a common belief that masturbation can lead to precocious puberty or a shortened growth period due to increased testosterone levels from ejaculation. However, this claim is not supported by scientific evidence. Masturbation does not have a significant impact ...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Masturbation does not affect physiological aspects, including endocrine function, and therefore does not lead to precocious puberty or impact growth duration. However, if the child is still prepubescent and is curious about their genitalia during the phallic stage, parents can ed...

Is Early Breast Development at Age Eight Normal for Girls?

Is it normal for an eight-year-old girl to start developing breast tissue? Hello: My friend has a daughter who recently turned eight years old and is currently in the second grade. However, before she turned eight, her breasts had already begun to develop, and now that she has ju...

Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: If a girl under the age of eight shows signs of development, it is advisable to take her to a pediatric endocrinologist. It may not necessarily be precocious puberty; some cases can be caused by environmental hormones.

Managing Asthma and Sinusitis in a 5-Year-Old: Concerns and Medication Overview

Asthma and rhinitis in a 5-year-old child? Hello Doctor: My child (currently 5 years old) has been diagnosed with an allergic constitution, asthma, and sinusitis. For the past five months, he has been taking a considerable amount of medication daily. When he is not experiencing a...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Children often suffer from frequent colds that take a long time to heal, and the most common cause is indeed respiratory allergies. Allergen testing can detect "overt" allergens, but many "hidden" allergens (such as cold air, cold-induced reactions, and exerci...

Understanding Skin Allergies in Infants: When to Seek Help

Skin allergy Hello, doctor. 1. My baby is now over 3 months old and often has skin that resembles "hives," with small red spots or patches on the hands and feet. They appear for a while and then gradually fade. The clinic doctor prescribed medication and mentioned to ...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: The primary purpose of lactose-free formula is to alleviate diarrhea. To prevent allergies, the best approach is to breastfeed, followed by considering hydrolyzed protein formula. Allergic predisposition can be hereditary; studies indicate that if one parent has an allergi...

Understanding Developmental Issues in a 10-Year-Old Boy

Developmental issues in a 10-year-old boy? Hello Doctor: My son will turn ten this October. Recently, he mentioned that his breasts hurt when touched, and in the past few days, I noticed that there are hard lumps starting to form. Initially, there was only one on the right side, ...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If it is located directly below the nipple, it is likely a normal phenomenon occurring "before" development. However, if there are noticeable accompanying secondary sexual characteristics (such as the growth of pubic and axillary hair, development of a male Adam's ...

Concerns About Breast Development in a 5-Year-Old Girl: What to Do?

A 5-year-and-8-month-old girl with right breast development? Dear Dr. Hsiao, I would like to consult you regarding my daughter, who is 5 years and 8 months old. She has a noticeable curvature in her right breast, and upon touching, I can feel a hard lump beneath the breast. This...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
A 5-year-old girl showing signs of breast development (even if it's only on one side) and possibly having "suspected" onset of menstruation should primarily consider the possibility of "precocious puberty" (which is the most significant concern that shoul...

Is Early Tooth Loss a Sign of Precocious Puberty in Children?

Teeth Hello Dr. Hsieh: My daughter is four years and eight months old and has replaced her lower front teeth and grown her upper molars. Now at five years and two months, she has replaced another tooth next to her lower front teeth, and her upper front teeth are also wiggling. Ad...

Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: Early loss of primary teeth can lead to the premature eruption of permanent tooth buds. It is important to note that the alignment of teeth is not absolutely related to precocious puberty. Some physicians may assess bone age as a reference. Generally, observation is recomm...

How to Identify Allergies in Infants: A Guide for Parents

How to identify allergies in infants? Hello, doctor. My baby is 4 months old, and I would like to know how to determine if he is allergic. I asked the hospital, and they said that allergy testing through blood work can only be done after the age of three. However, some people say...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: Allergic diseases are related to two factors: one is the allergic constitution, and the second is allergens. The allergic constitution is hereditary; many scholars have statistically found that if one parent has an allergic constitution, the child has a one in four to one ...

Common Pediatric Concerns: Baby's Health Questions Answered

Please consult a doctor? Thank you for your previous response, doctor! I have a few more questions to ask~~ My baby is now 3 months old and weighs 8 kg. He has one meal of breast milk supplemented with formula milk, around 60-180 cc daily. 1. A few days ago, while I was cleanin...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
1. The external genitalia of newborns are not fully developed (they will become more pronounced at puberty). As long as there is no hypospadias or penile curvature, the most important factor is that both testicles have descended into the scrotum and can be palpated, which indicat...

Understanding Allergies and Asthma in Young Children: A Parent's Guide

Allergic rhinitis / Asthma My daughter (2 years old) has always been in good health, rarely experiencing fever. When she does have a fever, it usually subsides quickly, often without the need for medication; just giving her some warm water is enough to help reduce the fever. Howe...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Mrs. Liang, Hello. Allergic diseases are related to two factors: one is the allergic constitution, and the second is the allergens. The allergic constitution can be hereditary; numerous studies have shown that if one parent has an allergic constitution, the child has a one ...

Understanding Testicular Size Discrepancies in Infants: When to Seek Medical Advice

Testicular size Hello Doctor: My grandson is 50 days old, and I recently discovered that his testicles are different sizes, with the left measuring 5.5 cm and the right 3.5 cm. Is this normal? It seems like they have been different sizes since birth. Could this be a case of hydro...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello! The causes of scrotal swelling include: 1. Scrotal edema: 6% of full-term infants may experience scrotal edema, but most cases resolve within the first year, so it is advisable to wait until after one year to decide on surgery for neonatal scrotal edema. 2. Hernia: Intesti...

Is My One-Year-Old's Weight and Standing Development Normal?

I'm sorry, but I need content to translate? Dear Doctor, my daughter has just turned one year old and she is not able to stand while holding onto something. Is this considered normal? At what age do children typically start to stand? Additionally, her weight is 7.5 kilograms...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Xiaomin, The answers to your questions are as follows: From 10 to 12 months, your baby should be able to: - Crawl more steadily and quickly - Transition between various positions more effectively - Stand and walk while holding onto objects - Take a few steps independently...

Understanding Risks and Treatment Options for Sebaceous Nevus in Children

What are the risks associated with sebaceous gland nevus surgery? Hello Dr. Hsiao, I would like to ask about my daughter, who has a coin-sized area on her scalp where hair has not grown since birth. Is this definitely a "sebaceous gland nevus"? I just came across this ...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Sebaceous gland nevi may have a chance of developing secondary malignant or benign tumors, with the occurrence of secondary changes typically happening after puberty. There are two treatment methods: one is laser therapy, and the other is surgical excision. Laser treatment can fl...

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