Published online March 1, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 3 March 2006, pp. 951-954 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1227)
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EXPERIENCE AND REASON

Pubic Hair of Infancy: Endocrinopathy or Enigma?

Todd D. Nebesio, MD and Erica A. Eugster, MD

Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology/Diabetology, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

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.

Key Words: pubic hair • infancy • premature adrenarche • precocious puberty

Abbreviations: 17-OHP, 17-hydroxyprogesterone • DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone • ß-hCG, ß-human chorionic gonadotropin

Accepted Jun 30, 2005.