If you have a child with spina bifida who is in their early years, you might think (or hope!) that this will be the most challenging time for him/her.
The fact of the matter is, each developmental stage of life with spina bifida (just like life without spina bifida!) presents unique challenges.
One secondary condition that children with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus are more prone to is central precocious puberty. If you Google it, you’ll find different descriptions and definitions, but what it basically means is that the child will enter puberty earlier than what is considered “normal.”
Here are some resources to help aid your research on the topic:
Precocious Puberty on Medscape
Precocious Puberty on Mayo Clinic site
Having gone through this myself, I wouldn’t say I have regrets per sé, but rather one thing that would have made it easier for me and for my family: I wish my pediatrician at the time had been more knowledgable about this condition. Had she been knowledgable, she would have known to refer us to a pediatric endocrinologist, and we would have begun my treatment earlier. By the time I went through the series of Lupron shots, my growth had almost ceased.
I feel fortunate that, being a girl means that being “petite” is accepted. Still, it’s good to have all this information early on, so that you can make an educated decision about your child’s medical care.
For those who suspect your child is going through CPP, here are some of the symptoms or effects that are associated with it:
In girls:
-Breast growth
-First period
In boys:
-Enlarged testicles and penis
-Facial hair
-Deepening voice
In both sexes:
-Pubic or underarm hair
-Rapid growth
-Acne
-Adult body odor
One thing I strongly suggest to girls and women who are dealing with a heavy period is to take iron pills, or multi-vitamins with a high dose of iron, and to eat foods that are rich in iron. This is important especially during “that time of the month.”
Also, don’t forget to be on the lookout for any signs of clinical depression in your child– a loss of interest in his/her usual activities, struggling in school, mood swings, and other abnormal behavior. Try to get into the habit of talking with him/her regularly about the things that concern him/her, and encourage him/her to talk to you when they are upset about something.
Most of all, remember that if the symptoms get too severe for you to handle, be sure you visit your doctor and talk to him/her about possible treatments or ways to help mitigate them.
Even if you don’t catch it early on, having CPP doesn’t have to equal disaster for your child’s growth and development. I hope parents reading this find the resources encouraging, and that you won’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions:
laurita.tellado@gmail.com.
–Laurita 
© 2012, Laurita. All rights reserved.
