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Pediatric Endocrinology (Expert Forum)
infant pubic hair
Answered by
Deanna L Aftab Guy, MD - Short Stature, thyroid, Pituitary abnormalit, Puberty concerns, Rapid Growth, Adrenal problems, Parathyroid abnormal, Rickets and bone dis
Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
Nashville - TN
Questions in the Pediatric Endocrinology forum are answered by Dr. Deanna L Aftab Guy, affiliated with Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Topics covered include adrenal problems, diabetes insipidus, menstrual irregularities, obesity, parathyroid abnormalities, pituitary abnormalities, puberty concerns, rapid growth, rickets and bone disease, short stature, and thyroid.
infant pubic hair
by silcha, Jul 17, 2008 04:58PM
I noticed that my son developed hair on his scrotum at 4 -1/2 mon old. He is now 6 mon old and the hair is still there. At first I thought it was from desomide-corticosteroid for his eczema so that was d/c'd and i started using hydrocortisone sparingly. He still has the hair and pediatrician thinks its caused by oxytocin found in cows milk and can be excreted through breast milk. He wants us to see ped endo specialist but doesnt think this is serious as he has no other worrisome symptoms. His weight is in the 40th percentile, hight in the 75th. He is breast fed and has started cereal and baby food. I'm hoping that this is a begnine growth and he will outgrow it.
Can you give me more information and your thoughts on this issue.
Thank you.
Can you give me more information and your thoughts on this issue.
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Deanna L Aftab Guy, MD, Aug 24, 2008 10:19AM
, Aug 24, 2008 10:19AM
To: silcha
I think I answered this elsewhere but here is my answer again
This is premature adrenarche, the early production of the male hormones from the adrenal glands, when they are produced early or in excess it is important to rule out abnormal reasons. One important cause that is rare and often screened for at birth is congenital adrenal hyperplasia, this is a block in the enzymes that the adrenal glands make and there is a build up of the male hormones that then cause the hair to become coarse and curly in the pubic and axillary area and cute baby sweat to change to body odor. There is a nonclassical kind that may not show till later after birth due to an incomplete block, this needs to be ruled out, if all is well and there is just an early blip of these normally occuring hormones then they can monitor her closely to be sure that things do not advance to stimulate the pituitary to trigger the female hormones associated with early puberty as we know it.
Your doctor does need to refer you to see an endocrinologist and labs are important to get done as well as consideration of an ultrasound of the adrenal gland.
This is premature adrenarche, the early production of the male hormones from the adrenal glands, when they are produced early or in excess it is important to rule out abnormal reasons. One important cause that is rare and often screened for at birth is congenital adrenal hyperplasia, this is a block in the enzymes that the adrenal glands make and there is a build up of the male hormones that then cause the hair to become coarse and curly in the pubic and axillary area and cute baby sweat to change to body odor. There is a nonclassical kind that may not show till later after birth due to an incomplete block, this needs to be ruled out, if all is well and there is just an early blip of these normally occuring hormones then they can monitor her closely to be sure that things do not advance to stimulate the pituitary to trigger the female hormones associated with early puberty as we know it.
Your doctor does need to refer you to see an endocrinologist and labs are important to get done as well as consideration of an ultrasound of the adrenal gland.
Member Comments (3)
by ny2125, Jul 17, 2008 11:12PM
is the hair fine and light colored or is it dark and more like adult hair? could just be regular body hair that everyone has.
by silcha, Jul 29, 2008 09:50PM
To: ny2125
no, this is not regular body hair. this is coarse black hair. Regardless, infants do not have genital hair normally. the doc thinks its abnormal since he wants us to see an endo. I just dont know if this is something that will resolve spontaneously if it should be treated. Some lit out there says that the hair falls out eventually.
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