You may have observed that athletes and other fitness-oriented individuals bulk up to put on a good show. Nothing says healthy and buff like all muscle, toned abs, and no bloating. These people use steroidal drugs in order to achieve the body that any athlete would kill to have. But steroids also have a significant side effect that can be noticeable in just a few weeks’ use. It’s man boobs.
But athletes are not the only ones affected by this otherwise unsightly condition, because gynecomastia in babies is another condition that needs immediate medical intervention the moment it is noted. Sure they do, babies are also at risk for having gynecomastia, especially neonates. There are many factors that may predispose a young infant to having abnormal enlarged breasts. These risk factors may be inborn, or maybe because of medication.
Gynecomastia in babies can start in utero, if the mother is a chronic steroid user. The drug is teratogenic if a woman is pregnant, which means that it crosses the placenta, going straight to the fetus. Steroids are not only used by athletic people, they are also utilized to alleviate allergic reactions and as an adjunct to antibiotics especially in upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Women who are about to take antibiotics for a certain infection should inform their doctors if they are pregnant in order to give them a different, non-teratogenic drug for their therapy.
Neonates who suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome, or develop severe bronnchospasms from status asthmaticus or other respiratory infections may also be given steroids to counteract the allergic reaction and stop the recurring spasms. Steroid therapy is a significant factor that contributes to the development of gynecomastia in babies and even toddlers and school-aged children.
This condition may also be caused by a shift in the hormonal and chemical homeostasis of the mother when she was still pregnant with the child. As a result, excessive levels of progesterone or estrogen may be transferred to the unborn child through the placenta which triggers the abnormal breast enlargement. The babies that are most affected with gynecomastia are males. Female newborns and infants who suffer from the condition may even develop witch’s milk, or the milky white substance that is secreted by the child’s mammary glands that may subside after a few weeks.
Now if you’re a mother and your baby’s personal nurse, you should watch out for signs of breast enlargement in your child as well. Don’t leave everything to the medical team, since you’ll be taking your child home the day it’s discharged from the hospital. Check to see any abnormal enlargement of the fatty tissues of the breasts and the areola or nipple.
Along with this, don’t forget to assess for hernias or protrusion of an organ or the gonads. Gynecomastia is usually accompanied by enlargement of the testes for males since it can indicate an imbalance in the child’s endocrine system. As a mother, don’t be hesitant to ask questions to your health care provider about your child’s overall health condition, that way you could prevent any further complications and unwanted shifts in the child’s many body systems. Don’t forget to follow up on schedule regarding your child’s regular check up since gynecomastia and other problems are not detected in one consultation only.
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