I remember very clearly my fear and anxiety the day I took my baby, only a few months out of the NICU, to her pediatrician only to be told there was nothing wrong, at least, that he could find.
Whatever was ailing her passed quickly, and her pediatrician wondered if it might be a delayed reaction to a routine vaccine a few days before, and we went on with life. Sometimes, though, after the doctor offers reassurances that all is well, parents still see symptoms and are faced with a tough decision.
Do we accept what our doctor said or seek a second opinion?
The Toddler With An Overlooked Brain Tumor
One Louisiana mom, Catherine Owens, took her daughter to the pediatrician twice and was on her second trip to the emergency room when she finally convinced staff to carry out the test that would result in a diagnosis.
She knew something was wrong. Her daughter, only two years old, complained of headaches and had a sudden regression in her potty training skills. She walked with her head tilted oddly, and her mom says she just seemed “off.”
Doctors found a strep infection and treated it, then blamed the symptoms on seasonal allergies, a new younger brother, and even suggested the child was just “copying” her mom’s migraines.
But her mom was sure something was wrong, and when she begged for a CT scan, it found a mass in the child’s brain.
This started the family on a saga that included surgeries, speech therapy, physical therapy, radiation, and more, according to Today.
However, the outcome could have been far worse if Owens hadn’t insisted that something was wrong with her daughter and pushed for further tests.
Brain Cancer Early Warning Signs
Experts recommend that a medical professional check out children who have persistent headaches.
Parents can watch for other early warning signs that could be signals of brain cancers or tumors, too. The UK’s Brain Tumor Charity suggests watching out for the following:
- Changes in vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of or regression in balance/motor skills
- Behavioral changes
- Seizures
- Abnormal head position
- Loss of energy
- Growth changes (such as if your baby seems to stop growing)
- Excessive thirst
- Delayed puberty
- Reduced consciousness
Johns Hopkins adds that in small children, tumors can also cause a visible change in head shape or size because skull bones are still malleable in infancy. Parents should watch for bulging or other oddities in head growth.
As noted above, the mom of the Louisiana toddler saw some of these symptoms, including head tilt, regression in skills, and headaches. Still, she had to push for the testing necessary to uncover the tumor.
Brain Tumors Are Relatively Rare And Very Serious
Doctors frequently abide by the adage, “When you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras.”
There are an average of just over 5,000 cases of pediatric (ages 1-19) brain tumors per year in the United States, according to a report in PubMed.
When your pediatrician encounters a toddler with a headache, it’s statistically far likelier to have been caused by an injury, a lack of sleep, a strep throat infection, or a cold or flu than by a tumor, and in fact, the University of Rochester Medical Center says that the most common headaches in kids are stress-related.
However, headaches with other symptoms, like nausea, fever, stiff neck, or fainting, all call for immediate medical attention.
Be Specific In Reporting Symptoms
Write down what you’ve witnessed in your child to ensure you share all relevant information with your doctor.
If possible, chart your child’s fever before giving any pain meds or fever reducers, noting the time and temperature.
Note symptoms like lethargy, head position, changes in eye movement, etc, and write down when you first noticed each. You may want to take a photo or short video to document sporadic symptoms, for instance, if your child struggles with balance while walking across the kitchen, in case they can’t be replicated in an exam room.
If you feel that your medical providers fail to evaluate specific symptoms, ask that they be documented.
You can tell the doctor, “I’d just like to make sure it’s noted in her chart that I raised concerns about this regression today.”
When To Seek A Second Opinion
It’s always acceptable to seek a second opinion if you believe that your child is sicker than her doctors are acknowledging.
Ideally, if you genuinely overreact, you have a doctor who can calmly share enough information to help you understand. If your doctor doesn’t seem willing to do this or doesn’t seem to acknowledge your concerns, you can and should seek a second opinion.
If symptoms worsen or persist longer than expected, for example, if the headaches don’t go away after the strep is treated, it’s appropriate to contact your doctor for a follow-up.
It’s also a good habit to ask your doctor when your child is treated if any specific circumstances warrant a return visit and how long you should wait for symptoms to improve before seeking a change in treatment.
