Pubic hair of infancy: endocrinopathy or enigma?
Pubic hair of infancy is a rare condition that has not been well-characterized. A retrospective chart review of infants <12 months of age who presented to our pediatric endocrine clinics with isolated pubic hair over the last 5 years was performed. Eleven patients were identified (6 male and 5 female). The average age at diagnosis was 8.3 +/- 2.0 months. The majority of patients (73%) had pubic hair in an atypical location. Growth pattern, laboratory evaluation, and bone-age radiographs were unremarkable for all the infants. Of the infants that returned for follow-up, pubic hair resolved by the age of 11.0 +/- 1.5 months. From our experience and review of the literature, we suggest that isolated pubic hair of infancy is a benign entity. However, long-term follow-up needs to be done to determine if pubic hair of infancy is an atypical variant of premature adrenarche, which may place these patients at risk for later adult disease.
Nebesio
Todd D
TD
Department of Pediatrics, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. tdnebesi@iupui.edu
Eugster
Erica A
EA
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male