Write a short note on Adolescence & Puberty.

Definition

• Adolescence (WHO: 10–19 years) is the transitional period between childhood and adulthood, marked by puberty (physical & sexual maturation), rapid physical growth, and profound psychosocial and cognitive change.
• Youth is 15–24 years and 'young people' 10–24 years.

Endocrine Basis

Reactivation of GnRH pulses (hypothalamus) → ↑ LH & FSH (pituitary) → ↑ Sex steroids (oestrogen / testosterone) → Secondary sexual characters + growth spurt

Physical Changes

• Girls (first sign: breast budding, ~8–13 yr): thelarche → pubarche → growth spurt → menarche (Tanner 4).
• Boys (first sign: testicular enlargement ≥ 4 mL, ~9–14 yr): genital growth → pubarche → growth spurt (later) → voice deepening, facial hair, nocturnal emissions.
• Growth spurt: peak height velocity earlier in girls (~11–12 yr) than boys (~13–14 yr); contributes ~15–20% of final adult height.

Psychosocial Development (3 Sub-stages)

• Early (10–13 yr): concern about body changes; concrete thinking.
• Middle (14–16 yr): peer influence peaks; risk-taking; identity formation.
• Late (17–19 yr): abstract thinking; future orientation; intimate relationships.

Nutritional Needs

• Peak nutritional demand of childhood — high requirements for energy, protein, iron, calcium and zinc.
• Girls need extra iron (menstrual loss) — hence weekly iron-folic-acid supplementation programmes.

Common Adolescent Health Problems

• Nutritional — iron-deficiency anaemia, obesity, eating disorders.
• Menstrual problems; acne; concerns about short stature / delayed puberty.
• Risk behaviours — substance use, unsafe sex / STIs, road-traffic injuries.
• Mental health — depression, anxiety, self-harm; academic and family stress.