While most parents would be happy to see their children growing fast, they should be alert to unusual growth spurts that could be indicative of other medical conditions, a Taipei doctor said.
Chinese Medical University Children’s Hospital doctor Hsieh Hsiu-ying (謝秀盈) said that two years ago, a boy underwent a sudden growth spurt at the age of nine, standing about half a head taller than other boys his age.
The boy also went into puberty and grew at levels consistent with those of a 13-year-old.
The family consulted a doctor, who discovered a malignant brain tumor that was stimulating the boy’s pituitary gland and causing premature development, Hsieh said.
After administering injections and radiation therapy, doctors were able to get his growth under control, Hsieh said.
“This boy had quite a small frame to begin with. Two years ago he developed a hearty appetite and started developing rapidly. The father, feeling something was wrong, brought the boy to a doctor. At the time the boy had already grown to 142.6cm in height, well beyond the 135cm average for his age. His sexual maturity had reached stage 3 of the five stages of development, and his hormone levels went through the roof,” Hsieh said.
Further tests revealed a 1.5cm tumor stimulating the nearby pituitary gland, resulting in rapid growth because of the excessive release of hormones. The tumor was also putting pressure on the optic nerve and affecting vision in his left eye.
After four months of radiation therapy and injections to control hormone release, no sign of the tumor remained, Hsieh said.
Doctors said that although they were able to eradicate the tumor, about six months ago, the boy showed signs of slow growth and was given hormone supplements to compensate.
Now 11, he has grown to a height of 152.5cm, which doctors say is normal for his age.
“Early puberty is occurring at a higher rate. In 10 percent of observed cases this is due to tumors in the brain or sexual organs that cause an excessive release of hormones. The other 90 percent of cases are the result of dietary issues, such as overconsumption of fast food,” Hsieh said.
She added that the normal age of puberty is between nine and 14 years old for boys, and between eight and 13 years old for girls.
If development begins too soon it will also end earlier, which could lead to a child being shorter than average, Hsieh said.
Doctors advise parents to consult a doctor if they notice their child growing more than 6cm in a year.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
RSS