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[Foreign adopted children growth follow-up]
1Consultation d'Adoption Outremer, Service de Pédiatrie I, Hôpital d'enfants, CHU de Dijon, 10, bd Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 21034 Dijon, France.
Annales D'Endocrinologie
|February 20, 2002
Summary
International adoption can lead to precocious puberty in young girls due to rapid weight gain and dietary changes. Early monitoring of growth and bone age is crucial for timely intervention to ensure optimal final height.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Adoption Medicine
- Public Health
Context:
- International adoption rates in Western Europe have significantly increased over the past two decades.
- Children adopted internationally, particularly girls, face a risk of developing precocious puberty.
- This condition is often misdiagnosed or attributed to factors from the country of origin.
Purpose:
- To highlight the unrecognized risk of precocious puberty in internationally adopted girls.
- To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to preserve final adult height.
- To inform healthcare providers about the specific risks and monitoring needs of adopted children.
Summary:
- Rapid weight gain and dietary changes following adoption can trigger early puberty onset in girls aged 3-9.
- Leptin secretion, stimulated by weight gain, increases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) peaks, initiating puberty.
- Close monitoring of height and weight, along with bone age assessment via X-ray upon arrival, is recommended.
Impact:
- Ensures timely medical intervention for precocious puberty, preventing compromised final height.
- Raises awareness among pediatricians and adoptive families about this specific health concern.
- Facilitates appropriate management strategies for adopted children experiencing rapid pubertal development.