Symptoms
The symptoms vary with different types of brain tumour and also depend on the
location of the tumour. A child suffering from the disease may exhibit one or
more of the symptoms described here.
The brain is normally well protected by the skull which is a closed and rigid
box. A growing tumour in it will exert pressure on the brain resulting in headache,
vomiting and drowsiness.
Blockage of the flow of spinal fluid will also increase the pressure on the
brain. This fluid is normally produced inside the brain and flows to the surface
of the brain and spinal cord. It will accumulate inside the brain if its flow
is blocked by a tumour, leading to hydrocephalus ("water" in the brain).
The pressure of the tumour on brain substance will cause loss of balance, weakness,
clumsiness, squinting, double vision, swallowing difficulty, slurred speech
or convulsion. Hormone production from the pituitary gland may also be disturbed
resulting in abnormal growth and pubertal development or excessive urine. Also,
the child may become bad tempered or lose interest in daily activities.