Signs of Brain Tumor in Children

Early symptoms of a brain tumor can be misleading as the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other common problems. For example, headache can be experienced due to migraines or sinus infections. Moreover, there exist several types of brain tumors. Therefore, signs of brain tumor in children can be vague or dramatic, depending upon the type, size and location of the tumor.

Types of Brain Tumors in Children

Brain tumors can be benign or malignant (cancerous). They can be confined to a specific region or they may invade neighboring tissues and may spread into other parts of the body. Cancerous tumors can be primary (those originated in the brain) or secondary (those originated somewhere else in the body and spread into the brain). Development of primary tumors is more common in children. Gliomas, tumors that begin in glial cells are the primary tumors that are most common in children. Astrocytoma, brain stem glioma and ependymoma (tumors in the lining of the ventricles or in the central canal inside the spinal cord) are the types of gliomas. Pineoblastoma (rare malignant tumor that develops from the cells of the pineal gland situated near the center of the head and brain), craniopharyngioma (benign tumor that develops near the pituitary gland), medulloblastoma (tumors in the lower part of the brain called the cerebellum) and germ cell tumors (found in the center of the brain) are some other types of tumors that are observed in children. Since cerebellum regulates body movement, balance, posture and coordination, medulloblastomas can affect these features. Thus brain tumor symptoms may vary according to the type of the tumor. Let us take a look at the warning signs of brain tumor.

Signs of Brain Tumor in Children

Growing tumors in the brain create pressure on nerves and tissues which results in headache and other symptoms. Damaged areas in the brain exhibit characteristic symptoms. Here is the list of symptoms:

• Headaches (the child may suffer from headache even while sleeping)
• The child may experience increased severity of headache while changing the body position or while waking up in the morning.
• Worsening of the situation can be experienced while coughing or exercising.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures, muscle jerking or twitching
• Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
• Confusion, lack of concentration
• Double vision or unexpected vision problems
• Increased weakness or numbness
• Memory loss
• Increased sleep with or without dizziness
• Difficulty while speaking
• Gradual loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg
• Losing balance of the body, difficulty standing up or walking
• Changes in mood and personality

Many times, some of the above mentioned signs are considered as signs of migraines, school phobia, loss of appetite, or other common problems. But if such symptoms are seen in children, then parents should immediately consult the doctor. These symptoms need prompt medical attention. Only an expert doctor can diagnose and treat brain tumor. Early recognition of symptoms help get prompt treatment.

Treatment of Brain Tumor in Children

CT scan, MRI scan or a biopsy can help diagnose brain tumor in time. The doctor examines the physical symptoms and checks the personal and family history of the patient, before diagnosis. The specimen taken during the biopsy helps determine the grade of the tumor. Grading in turn helps design the correct treatment. Higher grade tumors are aggressive and grow faster while lower grade tumors grow slowly. Tumors are classified according to the location within the brain, their appearance and behavior. The treatment involves surgical removal of the tumor (if possible), chemotherapy and radiation therapy to kill the remaining cancerous cells, use of other medications like pain killers, etc. The treatment may vary according to the age and overall health of the child.

The main problem is that the above symptoms are misinterpreted as symptoms of other common problems like migraines. So, the symptoms are generally overlooked. It becomes difficult to treat the brain tumor patient when the cancerous tumors grow in numbers and size. Parents should carefully watch the behavioral and cognitive changes in their children. If the child is not concentrating on his studies, if the child suddenly develops speech problems, vision or hearing problems, then parents should immediately consult a doctor. If a child complains about constant headache or headache while lying down, or bending down, then parents should immediately contact their doctor.

A small child perhaps won't be able to speak out what changes he/she is experiencing. Signs of brain tumor in children can be subtle or obvious. It is the parent's responsibility to check whether the child is having any health problem and what difficulties he/she is facing. I hope you found the above information helpful.