What is the clinical term for the early onset of secondary sexual characteristics in both boys and girls?

The clinical term for the early onset of secondary sexual characteristics in both boys and girls is precocious puberty. This condition refers to the development of features such as breast development in girls and testicular enlargement in boys before the age typically expected—usually before age 9 in boys and before age 8 in girls.

Precocious puberty can arise due to various factors, such as hormonal imbalances or certain medical conditions, and it requires careful evaluation to determine the underlying cause and decide if treatment is necessary. Early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis leads to the premature release of sex hormones, which results in the early physical changes associated with puberty.

In contrast, the other terms refer to different processes or conditions. Adrenarche pertains specifically to the maturation of the adrenal glands and the production of adrenal androgens, which may not lead to the full spectrum of secondary sexual characteristics. Gynecomastia is a condition characterized by the enlargement of breast tissue in males and is not a general term for early puberty. Pseudoprecocious puberty is a phenomenon where secondary sexual characteristics develop due to external sources of sex hormones rather than due to activation of the body’s own endocrine system.

Understanding these