Each year, doctors diagnose about 2,200 children and adolescents with a primary brain tumor, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Primary brain tumors originate in the brain, while secondary brain tumors start elsewhere in the body, such as from lung cancer. The American Brain Tumor Association notes that brain tumor symptoms may resemble symptoms of other conditions.
Headaches
The National Institutes of Health notes that headaches commonly occur with brain tumors in children. The types of headaches that brain tumor patients have differ from headaches that result from other conditions. For example, headaches from brain tumors occur during sleep and become worse when patients wake up. The headaches also worsen when patients change their body positions. With the headaches, patients may have numbness, double vision or weakness.
Increased Intracranial Pressure
The tumor in the brain can put pressure on the surrounding tissue or block a ventricle, fluid filled areas of the brain, preventing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid; the cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the brain. Both conditions result in increased intracranial pressure, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Increased intracranial pressure can result in emotional and behavioral changes, such as depression, irritability and personality changes. Patients may feel sick as a result of the increased intracranial pressure. For example, patients may vomit in the morning. Patients may also have headaches, nausea and drowsiness. Increased intracranial pressure can affect respiratory and cardiac function; if left untreated, this can lead to a coma.
Mental Changes
The National Institutes of Health states that the only symptoms of a brain tumor in a child may present as changes in his mental state. For example, the child may have memory loss, difficulty concentrating and reasoning problems. A brain tumor can affect a patient's personality, resulting in abnormal emotional responses. Patients may sleep more than usual.
Seizures
Some children with brain tumors may experience seizures, which result from irregular electrical activity in the brain. The American Brain Tumor Association states that symptoms of a seizure from a brain tumor include loss of consciousness, convulsions and unusual sensations. Some patients may also have muscle twitching, speech problems and numbness. During the seizure, patients may sense abnormal smells or tastes.
Other Brain Tumor Symptoms in Children
The National Institutes of Health notes that children with brain tumors may have movement problems, such as balance issues and a gradual loss of movement. If the tumor is on the language regions of the brain, patient may have speech problems. Vision loss or double vision may occur. Some patients may also have hearing loss.
