The brain is a complex system of cells, which work together to transmit signals to the body. The brain is made up of cells called neurons, which signal to one another, as well as other cells that support the neurons. Brain diseases in children can occur when the cells of the brain are mutated, causing them to grow or signal abnormally early in life. There are a number of brain diseases that affect children, which range in their symptoms, prevalence, diagnosis methods and treatment.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that can affect children. According to Epilepsy Canada, 44 percent of epilepsy cases are diagnosed before age five, and 85 percent of cases are diagnosed before age 18. The Epilepsy Foundation reports that the incidence of epilepsy is high in children under two years old. Epilepsy causes seizures, which occur when cells within the brain signal to one another uncontrollably. Specific regions or the entire brain can be affected.
The Epilepsy Foundation outlines that epilepsy is diagnosed by physical examination, brain activity signal recordings and imaging methods to check for scars left by previous seizures. The Epilepsy Foundation states that epilepsy can be treated by medication, surgery and electrical nerve stimulation or by lifestyle choices like following a ketogenic diet. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seizures can be prevented by avoiding alcohol and getting enough rest.
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a type of brain tumor that develops inside the cerebellum, a region in the back of the brain. According to the University of Pennsylvania Oncolink, meduloblastoma accounts for 20 percent of childhood central nervous system cancers. Meduloblastoma usually develops in children between the ages of five and six, and almost all children affected are under 15.
According to Oncolink, the most common symptom of medulloblastoma is vomitting, and children may experience headaches and appear uncoordinated. Diagnosis is made by MRI imaging and tumor biopsy, and the tumor is usually treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a type of tumor that develops in children as young as 18 months. According to the University of Chicago, the cancer develops as a result of abnormal cells in the unborn child that develop into a tumor after birth. Neuroblastoma develops from cells of the sympathetic nervous system and can develop into tumors in the brain and throughout the body.
The Mayo Clinic indicates that there are several stages of neuroblastoma, corresponding to the severity of the tumor. Treatment for neuroblastoma depends on the stage of the tumor and may include surgery or chemotherapy. Some forms of neuroblastoma, which often occur in very young children, sometimes spontaneously regress and go away without treatment.
