Infantilism

 

What is infantilism?

Infantilism is a medical term often used to describe a condition caused by human development and early childhood disorders (HDCD) that lead to developmental disabilities, it is characterized by a condition that involves adapting the physical, physiological and/or psychological childish characteristics of early developmental stages (early childhood) into a relatively advanced age (adulthood).

What is paraphilic infantilism?

Paraphilic infantilism (autonepiophilia or adult baby syndrome) is a sexual fetish that involves adaptation of childhood behaviors from childhood to adulthood, such as drinking from a bottle, or wearing diapers.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of infantilism?

1. Amenorrhea or the absence of menstrual periods, it can be primary (meaning a woman has never had a menstrual period) or secondary (the absence of menstruation after menarche).
2. Poor development of secondary sexual signs. Females with infantilism lack visible secondary sex characteristics, such as pubic hair, enlarged breasts, and widened hips, whereas males with infantilism lack visible secondary sex characteristics, such as adam’s apple and facial hair.

Causes

What are the causes of infantilism?

Infantilism may be caused by hormonal disorders. Hormonal fluctuations and/or glandular dysfunctions in childhood and early adulthood often lead to low levels of growth hormone (growth hormone deficiency, GHD), and low levels of estrogen in women and low levels of testosterone in men (sex hormone deficiency).

What causes paraphilic infantilism?

In most cases, paraphilic infantilism is caused by childhood traumas (traumatic experiences in childhood), such as accidents, bullying, domestic violence or cruel parent, separation from a parent, absent parent, cyber-bullying, separation from a caregiver, parents divorce, parent with a mental illness, emotional or physical abuse, neglect, substance abuse, caregiver who used diaper punishments, or death of a close relative, as bad memories and feelings of a tough childhood have special power to wound and can create long-lasting scars. Children who have experienced traumatic events often have difficulty controlling emotions, such as anger, or anxiety and understanding complex social roles.

Treatment

How to treat infantilism?

Cyclic hormone therapy is an important treatment for women and men with infantilism, this involves the administration of sex hormones.

Next steps management

How to diagnose infantilism?

1. Hysteroscopy
2. Pelvic ultrasound
3. X-ray of the skull (sella)
4. Functional diagnostic tests, such as:

• Measurement of the basal body temperature
• karyopyknotic index
• Measurement of the compressed cervical mucus
• Pupil phenomenon

Verified by: Dr.Diab (November 7, 2017)

Citation: Dr.Diab. (November 7, 2017). Infantilism Symptoms Causes and Treatment. Medcoi Journal of Medicine, 10(2). urn:medcoi:article15695.