There are diseases that we often associate with age, like strokes, heart attacks and cancers. Our wellness can be affected by these health problems at any age, in fact we may even be born with them. Being informed about illnesses that can strike our children could help us protect them better from life threatening conditions.
Age matters
Childhood should be a carefree time where young people happily enjoy a full sense of wellbeing. This in itself can make us as parents or carers overlook certain health issues, because we simply don’t want to believe our children can be ill. Unfortunately little ones are at risk of some health issues, that aren’t affected by a healthy lifestyle, like leukaemia and brain cancer. Some studies suggest that one in 15 children in Europe have cancer from birth, so knowing the warning signs could get our children treated quicker, as there are medications and treatments available for these kinds of conditions.
Be alert
Although the figure, one-in-fifteen sounds like a lot, most changes to our children’s health are generally due to minor viruses and infections – but consulting our GPs is an effective way to relieve worries we have. When a child has leukaemia, they tend to be very tired all of the time, and they may lose weight and appear much weaker than normal. A visit to the doctor and further tests can confirm whether a child has leukaemia so treatment can be started right away. Brain tumours tend to be harder to diagnose, as they are so many different types and they affect children differently depending on where they lie in the brain – which is also true of cases found in adults. Some may start with physical problems, like vision loss, or muscle weakness, while others can show as personality changes.
Help available
Quicker diagnosis can help children battle the disease better and result in cured children being monitored regularly to prevent recurrence of the same problem. New research is on-going to try and help us understand more about some cancers, especially those that prove inoperable. As well as relying on the guidance of medical experts and the NHS, there are many cancer charities in the UK that provide help and support at difficult times.
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