No one wants to believe that it is possible for their children to have brain tumors, and although such occurrences are rare, they are far from unheard of. Whether you have a family medical history that might put a brain tumor at the top of your list of worries, you live in an area with environmental factors that you suspect could lead to tumors (as in, everyone in your neighborhood seems to come down with something), or you’ve simply noticed some strange behavior in your child, it’s never too soon to call your doctor and ask if your child should be tested (although in many cases you might be told that you have nothing to worry about). However, if you’re concerned that your children could be at risk for this potentially fatal disease, here are just a few signs and symptoms you’ll want to be on the lookout for (and some you may not have to worry so much about).
1. Headaches and vomiting. While these symptoms could definitely be caused by a brain tumor, there are dozens of more likely causes, ranging from migraines to the flu to food poisoning or parasites, so don’t get panicked and jump right to brain tumors. On the other hand, if these symptoms persist, you should definitely check in with your pediatrician. At the very least, you’ll need to have your child screened for other potential causes. And you may need to see a specialist to rule out anything serious.
2. Seizures. Like headaches, seizures are more commonly related to other disorders (such as epilepsy or head injury). However, it happens that nearly half of people who are diagnosed with tumors will experience related seizures. In truth, if you child is suffering from spasms of any magnitude, it is imperative that you take them to a doctor immediately.
3. Physical issues. Rapid weight loss, marked fatigue, and weakness on one side of the body (causing stumbling) are just a couple of ways in which a brain tumor may announce itself physically. Again, these symptoms could all be related to various other disorders, but you should still have you child checked out, regardless of the cause.
4. Sensory issues. This one is a big indicator that something is wrong in the brain, be it a tumor or other cause. If your child suffers sudden loss of vision, hearing, or any other sense, or they seem unable to process information correctly (things don’t smell like they’re supposed to or they seem to hear noises that aren’t there, for example), this is cause for concern. See your doctor immediately.
5. Cognitive difficulties. This is another area that should concern you. If you child begins to have trouble speaking or understanding communication, or they show other types of cognitive decline such as memory loss, inability to concentrate, or slower cognitive functioning (inexplicably), then there is something amiss. It may not be a brain tumor, but there is definitely some sort of neurological issue that needs to be addressed.
6. Severe personality shift. This doesn’t necessarily indicate a tumor, but it should raise red flags with any good pediatrician. Children have fully developed personalities from an extremely young age, and while it is a lot more likely that something in the environment would trigger a shift, it isn’t entirely out of the question for a tumor to be the cause. So if your child is acting out of character, at least contact your doctor to see if you should be worried.
Sarah Danielson is a writer for Adiamor Diamond Engagement Rings where you can find loose diamonds, engagement ring settings, and other fine diamond jewelry at affordable prices.
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