What are the signs and symptoms of Brain Tumor in children?

Children are very much different from adults as their body as well as different parts are still under the development stage. Therefore, their needs are different as well as tumors are different, too. The most common childhood brain tumors are not similar as the most common brain tumors that develop in adults. This disease is rare in children, but still it can be found among children under the age of 15 and represent about 20% of all childhood cancers.
The signs and symptoms of brain and spinal cord tumors might occur gradually and become worse over time, or they can happen suddenly, such as with a seizure.

If there are tumors present in any part of the brain, then it might raise the pressure inside the skull that can further cause swelling, or it can even block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Increased pressure can lead to general symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, crossed eyes or blurred vision, balance problems, behavior changes, seizures and drowsiness or even coma.
During the first few years the symptoms of tumors can also include irritability, loss of appetite, developmental delay, and there can be a drop in the intellectual and physical abilities of a child. In toddlers, the parents may notice symptoms such as increased head size, bulging of the soft spots of the skull.

The children who are scholars, can show symptoms such as poor school performance, fatigue, and personality changes.

The tumors present in different parts of the brain can cause different symptoms. But these symptoms can be a result of any disease in that particular location and they don’t always mean that a child is suffering from a brain or spinal cord tumor as suggested by the oncologists at the brain tumor hospitals.

• Tumors in the cerebellum, can cause trouble in walking or with other normal functions, even eating.
• The tumors present in the parts of the cerebrum causes weakness or numbness in a part of the body, often on just one side of the child.
• The tumors in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia can cause abnormal movements and body positions.

The above mentioned symptoms does not imply that a child is suffering from a brain tumor as all these symptoms can have other causes. But, if the child has any of these symptoms, and they don’t even fade away or even getting worse over time, then it is advised to see a pediatric oncologist as soon as possible.