Abstract
Normal timing and course of puberty are very important for the childs normal sexual and mental development as well as for attaining optimal body height. The practical paediatrician plays an irreplaceable role in monitoring the childs development, detecting deviations from the norm, and making an early diagnosis.
The review article summarizes the essential knowledge on the hormonal control of puberty, the development of secondary sex characteristics, and the most common disorders of puberty onset and/or course. It features practical recommendations of what the paediatrician should pay attention to during preventive check-ups of boys and girls from infancy to adulthood.