Experts link headaches in children to brain tumours
That persistent headache, convulsions, mainly in children and a blurring vision should not be taken lightly as they could be linked to a disorder in the brain, experts in the country have warned.
Already, it has emerged that five to 10 per cent of all tumours have been identified in Kenya, and most of them come for diagnosis and treatment when the condition has spread rapidly in the body.
As World Brain Tumour Day was marked yesterday, brain surgeons cautioned persons whose intake of painkillers to cure such relentless headaches in vain, to quickly conduct a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain.
Dr Ahamed Komen, a clinical oncologist at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) was more elaborate cautioning parents to closely observe their children’s behaviour, indicating that brain tumours are common among minors.
“Despite, brain tumours having no specific symptoms, parents should be keen to identify personality changes in their children; persistent nausea, vomiting, visual changes and even those constant cries at night.
The advise here is to see a neurosurgeon or do an MRI scan of the brain without wasting time. Such symptoms could link to a fatal outcome,” he told People Daily yesterday.
However, he said the symptoms of such a condition may vary depending upon the location of the tumour.
Common symptoms
Other common symptoms are seizures, loss of sensation in arms or legs, difficulty with speech and hearing.
With little available data, and the numbers seeming not to be of much worry, at 1 out of 1,000 people thought to be under treatment for brain tumour, Komen cautioned that recent incidents point to a situation that needs to be arrested.
“The kind of brain tumour we have recently been able to see in adults is very aggressive, and important for all of us to know that a persistent headache running between one week and two weeks should be treated seriously.
See a specialist immediately,” he said, explaining that even two weeks of waiting for such a headache to subside, is a long time.
“It can lead to, among other critical conditions, death,” he said.
For Dr Hitendra Gadkari, a Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery at Mediheal Hospital, awareness; early detection and treatment is all people experiencing symptoms that could be linked to interference of the neuron system need to observe to avert brain tumours.
“Headaches and vomiting are early warning signs of a possible brain tumour with late signs being weakness of one limb, the patient becoming unconscious and sometimes the patient slipping into a coma,” Gadkari who has operated on 150 patients with brain tumour in the last three years said.
He specifically cautioned persons with diabetes; kidney disorders and hypertension to listen closely to their bodies because combined with brain tumour, treatment becomes complicated.
“It is my experience that these patients are coming late and the diagnosis is delayed due to some unknown factors and which is causing difficulties in the successful treatment of these brain tumours,” he said, also ruling out the use of mobile phones as one of the causes of brain tumours.
Early detection and diagnosis
This has not been established as another possible cause of brain tumours as data is inadequate, he noted. Dr Gadkari said early detection and diagnosis should be advocated as it will help improve treatment outcomes.
“Earlier diagnosis should be promoted, people should get aware of brain tumours and general practitioners who work in Kenya should be aware of such conditions,” he added.
A Computerised Tomography (CT) or an MRI scan, for instance he stated, done early enough can be able to pick the tumours if any.
In early stages when they are in small size, the treatment, he emphasised will be easy; time and cost saving.
With a range of new technologies such as advanced microscopy surgery; brain endoscopic treatment of tumours, CUSA Caviton Ultrasonic suction, used for removal of brain tumours, have made it easy to conduct complex procedures on patients locally.
