A one-year-old boy in Delhi, India with a rare hormonal condition was found to have the testosterone level of a 25-year-old man, reports Hindustan Times.
Diagnosed with “precocious puberty”, the toddler known only as Akash suddenly grew facial and bodily hair as well as adult-sized sex organs. Just like other boys undergoing puberty, his voice was also starting break.
His parents initially noticed the disturbing physical changes when Akash was just six months old. His genitals had started growing abnormally and he was taller than other children his age.
Akash’ mother told the media: “We thought maybe he was just a big baby, so we did not take him to the doctor. But by the time he was one, it was apparent there was something wrong. My mother-in-law, who has taken care of several children in the family, also said that his growth seemed unnatural. That is when we took him to the doctor.”
According to Dr. Vaishakhi Rustagi, a physician at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Akash’s testosterone levels were exceptionally high which caused physical changes in his body.
“Since he was so young, he was not able to understand what was happening. He would experience sexual urges too,” he explained.
Dr. Rustagi added that precocious puberty is traumatic for a child as young as Akash since he can’t express his feelings or understand what is happening to him. Children suffering from this condition could also be violent since their muscle strength increased to a level that even their parents couldn’t control them.
Moreover, children with this condition may stop growing prematurely and may remain 3 to 4 feet tall for the rest of their lives.
Akash is currently on hormone therapy to relieve the symptoms of his condition. His parents have no choice but to spend $160 a month for his medication because the insurance company refused to shoulder the expenses.