The influence of bronchial asthma on sexual maturation of girls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma on sexual maturation of girls. The study encompassed 111 girls aged 8-17 years (58 girls treated for bronchial asthma and 53 healthy girls). The assessment of girls' sexual maturation has been performed using the Tanner-Marshall scale, determining stages of the development of secondary gender characters - mammary gland (Thelarche: Th1 - Th5), public hair (Pubarche: P1-P5), axillary hair (Adrenarche: A1-A4) and menarche age. The first symptoms of puberty among asthmatic girls started at 11.83+/-2.37 (Th2) and 12.85+/-1.87 (P2) years; they achieved the last stadium, on average, at 15 (Th5) and 17 (P5) years. The ages of Th2 and P2 were comparable, but the ages of Th4 and P5 were statistically younger in healthy girls. Asthmatic girls started to menstruate earlier (10.84+/-1.93 years) than controls (12.24+/-1.16 years). We conclude that bronchial asthma does not affect the beginning of sexual maturation, but it delays the final stage of secondary sexual characters' development. The age at menarche is accelerated in bronchial asthma and it depends on asthma severity and its clinical control.