Dr. Meghan Martin is an American pediatric emergency doctor followed by more than 2 million people on Instagram. In her very liked and commented videos, she gives health advice based on patients she meets in consultation. The pediatrician recently wanted to remind parents that migraines in children should not be taken lightly.
Migraines, nausea, vomiting: symptoms of intracranial pressure
For Dr. Martin, migraines that have occurred for several days with a child, and are intensifying in the morning, are an alert signal. If they are accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, they can be a sign of brain cancer. “”Nausea and vomiting are frequent symptoms in children in case of viral infection, but if they persist in time, you have to ask if there is no problem in the brain because intracranial pressure can cause these symptoms “explains the pediatrician.
As you can see, it is better to consult a doctor quickly if your child has complained about strong headache for several days, especially upon waking, and that he vomits and/or is nauseous.
The headaches linked to a brain tumor are the consequence of pressure from the tumor on the vessels and the brain nerves, according to the Brain Tumor Charity (British association which sensitizes on brain tumors).
Headaches, a frequent symptom which is rarely the sign of a malignant tumor
In his video, Meghan Martin wants to inform parents without worrying them. Indeed, out of the hundreds of children she sees each year in consultation for headaches, only three are diagnosed with a brain tumor. And among all the diagnostics of brain tumor, three -quarters are not cancerous tumors. However, Dr. Martin wanted to recall that the survival rate 5 years after the diagnosis of cancer tumor in the brain is only 12%.
What are the other symptoms of a brain tumor?
Migraines, nausea and vomiting are not the only symptoms that can appear in the event of a brain tumor. The emergency doctor reports that a persistent fatigue can be a sign of alarm, especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms. The other symptoms not to be overlooked are vision, language and hearing disorders. Indeed, a brain tumor can be the cause of a blurred or double vision, of abnormal movements of the eyes or a strabismus, according to the Cancer Research UK association.
In his video, Dr. Martin indicates that the children concerned can develop coordination problems and a loss of strength. The child may, for example, have difficulty walking or sitting (if it is a baby who does not yet work).
If you have any doubts about your child’s symptom (s), go to the nearest pediatric emergencies at home. A doctor may prescribe a scanner or brain MRI.