THE INFANT HERCULES ; ADRENOGENIGENITAL SYNDROME
My brother was born with a very large penis," she said. "And now, he's all muscles and hairs, has a voice deeper than my father's, and possesses a penis the size of an an adult's, even though he's barely 9. An "Infant Hercules," I thought, as she went on to describe how the 9 year old has already started getting erections. There present worry is his seemingly insatiable lust for pornography. Pity; When hormones adolescents find difficult to control is surging through the veins of a school boy; when the brain of a 9 year old is forced to control the genitals of an adult.
image from flickr
ADRENO-GENITAL SYNDROME
This is a genetic condition in which certain enzyme deficiencies leads to excessive production, in the adrenal glands, of androgens [male sex hormones], which in turn influence the development of the genitals. Its alternative name is Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia [CAH], which literarily means enlargement of the adrenal glands from birth. It could affect both males and females. In females, it leads to virilization, and masculinization of the female genitalia leading to a Pseudohermaphrodite-- a female with an ambiguous genitalia: a large clitoris that can easily be confused with a penis, and vulvas looking like scrotum. Some of such females would be "mistakenly" raised as males by the "naive" parents. In males, it could lead to both Precocious Puberty, and the Infant Hercules Syndrome.
INFANT HERCULES SYNDROME
The male child born with CAH, may come out with a penis size that is large, and out of proportion, for an infant due to excessive levels of Androgens [Testosterone]. He may also have a muscle mass that is larger than normal.
Such a child is called an Infant Hercules, after the Greek Demigod, Hercules, son of Zeus, known for his manly strength.
wikimedia: steroidogenesis enzymes affected in CaH
PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
Such children also tend to experience sexual precociousity; they tend to attain puberty way earlier than their peers, sometimes as early as 8 years, or even less. They usually develop pubic and axillary hairs before the usual age. Their voice deepen before the age of 10. And they usually have a penis size way larger than that expected for boys of their age.They are usually muscular, and have an early growth spurt. However, they end up not-so-tall in the long run as their growth plate closes earlier than normal.
OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CAH
Kids with CAH may have;
Hypoaldosteronism
Hypocortisolism
Etc.
CONCLUSION
Such children tend to be withdrawn as they are usually ashamed of their massive penis size, and therefore often need psychological support
Also, special attention should be given to them as it is not uncommon for randy older females to take advantage of them.
REFERENCES
- Hypoaldosteronism
- Addison's Disease or Hypocortisolism or Hypoadrenalism
- wikipedia: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- adrenogenital syndrome