The long-term health consequences of the corona pandemic are becoming increasingly clear. Italian specialists report a sharp increase in extremely early puberty (pubertas praecox) in girls. The reason for this could be the changed lifestyle with less sport, more overweight and more time in front of the screens.
“Our study confirms the increase in cases of precocious puberty during Covid-19 and identifies contributing factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, too much screen time and disrupted sleep,” said Mohamad Maghnie, head of the university’s Children’s Hospital. from Genoa. The study author continued: “We found that accelerated body weight gain in girls with precocious onset of puberty during the pandemic, and particularly rapid weight gain, is associated with this.”
In medicine, one speaks of extremely early puberty when a breast bud with glandular tissue develops in the eighth year of life. If other causes are ruled out, increased growth and various hormone parameters in the early years may also be progressive signs of precocious puberty for no known reason.
Four additional cases per month
The number of girls affected during the pandemic has skyrocketed. The University of Genoa still registers four cases per month. There were 72 cases between January 2016 and March 2020, while 61 cases were diagnosed between March 2020 and June 2021.
Those affected often have too high a body mass index (BMI), spend more than two hours on average in front of the screens or have sometimes stopped exercising altogether.
“The role of stress, social isolation, increased conflicts with parents, the economic situation and the increased use of disinfectants for hand and surface hygiene are other possible hypotheses for the earlier transition to puberty, although a biological adaptation cannot be completely ruled out. ”, says the study author.
Affected even younger than six
Italy – especially Northern Italy – was hit particularly hard by Covid-19 in early 2020. The authorities took extreme measures such as school closures, curfews and other measures. The scientists in Genoa even identified four girls with precocious puberty who were younger than six years old.
Source: Krone
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