People often say that children are our most precious gift. And yet there are diseases they can contract. Some diseases can be prevented by immunizations; but unfortunately, there are other diseases that cannot be prevented. Among these are the muscular dystrophies, as well as bone, muscle and eye tumors.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
This is not only the most common muscular dystrophy, but it is also the most severe. Duchenne is a hereditary disease that only affects males. Caused by a deficiency of a substance called dystrophin, a protein in the membrane of muscle cells, affected male children will start having symptoms around the age of two or three. These children will fall down often, have muscle fatigue and have a hard time walking or even standing. According to Michael Rubin, M.D., Professor of Clinical Neurology at the Weill Cornell College of Medicine, most of these children will be confined to a wheelchair by the time they are 12 years old and will die from respiratory problems by the time they are 20 years old.
Becker Muscular Dystrophy
This, too, is a hereditary disease that only affects males. But with Becker muscular dystrophy, the dystrophin is not deficient; it has an abnormal weight. The symptoms in Becker are milder than they are in Duchenne. Children are able to walk until they are approximately 15 years old, with many reportedly being able to walk until they are adults. And with Becker, many are able to live into their forties.
Ewing's Sarcoma
Ewing's sarcoma is a common bone tumor in children, usually affecting those between the ages of 10 to 25 years old. The disease usually affects the bones in the arms and legs, but any bone in the body can be affected. It is common for this tumor to metastasize (spread) early, usually to the liver, lungs and brain.
Osteosarcoma
This is another common bone tumor in children. It, too, usually affects those between 10 and 25 years of age. Osteosarcoma, however, will usually develop in the femur (thigh bone) near the knee. Other common sites include the tibia (lower leg bone) and the humerus (arm bone), but any bone can be affected. Like Ewing's sarcoma, it metastasizes, usually to other bones, lungs or brain.
Rhabdomyosarcoma
This tumor develops from cells that are supposed to develop into skeletal muscle. According to David Korenes, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Oncology and Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, 3 to 4% of all pediatric cancers are rhabdomyosarcomas. This cancer can occur anywhere in the body, but it is usually found in their head or neck, bladder, vagina, prostate, arms or legs. Most of these tumors do not metastasize.
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is a tumor of the retina in the eye. It is also the most common pediatric eye tumor, with most cases diagnosed by the time the child has reached five years of age. The tumor is white, which is why it will appear that children with this disease have a white pupil, which is referred to as leukocoria.
References
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics"; William Hay, Jr., M.D., Myron Levin, M.D., Judith Sondheimer, M.D., Robin Deterding, M.D.; 2009
- "Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease"; Ramzi Cotran, M.D., Vinay Kumar, M.D., Stanley Robbins, M.D.; 1994
- Merck: Muscular Dystrophies
- Merck: Rhabdomyosarcoma
