Category: Family Health

When a parent or other family member has a serious illness, it can be hard to know how to tell children. You might think you’re protecting kids by sparing them from any worries or fears. But they tend to know when something’s going on, and not being told about it could make them feel anxious.

Here are some tips on when to start talking with your child, what to say, and how to support them.

How Should I Have the First Talk?

Pick a time when you’re relaxed enough to talk and won’t be rushed. Maybe a weekend afternoon when no activities are happening and there’s time to answer questions. Just try to avoid telling kids at bedtime because they may have trouble sleeping afterward.

It’s OK to talk with your child even if you don’t have all the information yet.

What Should I Say?

Your goals are to help your child understand what’s happening and what to expect — and comfort them. It’s important to be honest. Kids may have no questions or lots of them. If you don’t know the answers, say you’ll try to find out.

Other things to keep in mind:

Start with the basics about the illness, like what it’s called, what part(s) of the body it affects, and the treatment. It may help to ask them what they’ve heard about the illness.

Support your child’s emotions. Be patient and don’t dismiss what kids are feeling. If they tell you they’re upset or scared, echo what they said: “Yes, I see this makes you very scared. It’s OK to feel that way.” This lets children know you’re hearing and understanding them.

You can also share how you feel and any positive steps you’re taking to cope, like going for walks outside. This may help kids open up more and give them ideas on how to manage their own big feelings.

Explain things based on kids’ age and maturity. Consider how much kids can understand and absorb. Try these age-based tips:

• Early grade school: Keep the information short and simple. For example, “Your mommy is sick. She’ll need to go to the hospital for about 3 days. Doctors will give her medicine.” Tell children that they didn’t do anything to “cause” the illness and they can’t catch it. The doctor may be able to recommend children’s books that can help you explain the illness.
• Older kids: This age group understands more, but don’t give too many details, which could cause worry. You can talk about how a serious illness is different from a headache or cold. Mention the people who will be helping, like doctors and nurses.
• Teens: Teens often want a lot of information. Assure your teen that you or another trusted adult will keep them updated on things like changes in treatment. This helps them know what to expect. Encourage them not to look up the illness online because they may find worse-case examples. Explain that you can ask the health care team for the facts.

Kids and teens of all ages may have a tough time talking about what’s going on. Very young kids can use drawings to help them “say” what they’re feeling. For older kids and teens, suggest that they write in a journal, create artwork, or play music to express themselves. You also can encourage them to find healthy ways to cope with stress, like doing breathing exercises, yoga, or sports.

You don’t have tell your child everything at first. You can share what’s happening little by little. This can be helpful if you’re not sure how long the treatment will take or if it will be a success.

What Else Can Help?

Explain what will be the same and what could change. Tell kids that you and the rest of the family love them and that will always be the case. Talk about how you’ll try to keep things the same, but some stuff may change for a time. For example, someone else may have to pick them up from school and stay with them until dinner. Or maybe the ill person will be in the hospital; need to stay in bed for a while; or have side effects like changes in weight, tiredness, or hair loss.

Talk about what your child can do to help. Finding ways for kids to pitch in can give them a sense of control. Suggest they do things like keep their room clean or wash dishes. Younger kids can pick flowers, draw pictures, or make cards for the person who’s sick. Teens might be able to watch their siblings when needed.

Stick to a routine. This can help kids feel secure. They should be physically active, get enough sleep, and eat well. See that they do all their homework and go to any usual after-school sports or clubs.

Find support. Let your kids know about people they can reach out to. They can lean on another family member or close friend. Or they might talk with a teacher, school counselor, or religious leader.

Consider joining a support group to share experiences and get advice from families who’ve been through it. There are also camps for kids with family members who have a serious illness. These can provide a healthy space for coping.

Watch for stress. If your child shows changes in behavior (like not sleeping or eating, not wanting to be around people, or worrying all the time), call your doctor or a behavioral health care provider. They can help your child manage anxiety and cope.

What Is the Birth Control Pill?

The birth control pill (also called “the Pill”) is a daily pill that has hormones to change the way the body works and prevent pregnancy. Hormones are chemicals substances that control the body’s cells and organs. In this case, the hormones in the Pill control the ovaries and the uterus.

How Does the Pill Work?

There are two kinds of birth control pills: combination pills and mini-pills.

Most birth control pills are combination pills, which have two hormones: estrogen and progesterone. They help prevent ovulation (the release of an egg during the monthly cycle). For a pregnancy to happen, sperm needs to fertilize (“meet”) an egg.

Mini-pills have just one hormone: progesterone. They sometimes prevent ovulation. But they mostly work by making it tough for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that were released.

The two kinds of birth control pills also might make it hard for an egg to attach to the wall of the uterus so the egg can’t grow there.

How Are Birth Control Pills Taken?

Combination Pills: Most combination pills come in a 21-day pack or a 28-day pack. Users take 1 hormone pill each day at about the same time for 21 days. Depending on the pack, they’ll stop taking the birth control pills for 7 days or take a pill that has no hormones for 7 days. During those 7 days, they’ll get a period. Some people like the 28-day pack because it keeps them in the habit of taking a pill each day so they won’t forget.

There’s also a combination pill pack that has hormone pills for 12 weeks and then pills without hormones for 7 days. With this pack, users have periods once every 3 months instead of once a month.

Mini-Pills: Users take a mini-pill every day without a break and might have irregular periods or no periods. The mini-pill doesn’t work as well as combination pills to help prevent pregnancy.

For the first 7 days after someone starts taking the Pill, they should use a second form of birth control, like condoms, to avoid getting pregnant. After 7 days, the Pill should work alone to prevent pregnancy. This timing can vary based on the type of Pill and when they start taking it. Also, it’s important to keep using condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

All birth control pills work best when the user takes them every day at the same time, even if they’re not going to have sex. This is extra important with mini-pills — for them to work, no doses can be missed.

If someone skips or forgets pills, they’re not protected against pregnancy and should use a backup form of birth control, like condoms, or stop having sex for a while.

How Well Does the Pill Work?

Over the course of a year, about 8 out of 100 couples who use the Pill to prevent pregnancy will have an accidental pregnancy. The Pill is an effective form of birth control, but even missing 1 day increases the chances of a pregnancy.

In general, how well each kind of birth control method works depends on many things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medicines or herbal supplements that might make it less effective. For example, a medicine like an antibiotic can make the Pill not work as well.

Does the Pill Protect Against STDs?

The birth control pill doesn’t protect against STDs. Couples having sex must always use condoms along with the Pill to avoid getting and spreading STDs.

Abstinence (not having sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.

What Are Possible Side Effects of the Pill?

The Pill is a safe and effective method of birth control. Most users have no side effects or very few.

Side effects that can happen from the Pill include:

• irregular periods (more common with the mini-pill)
• nausea, headaches, dizziness, and breast tenderness
• mood changes
• blood clots (rare in users younger than age 35 who don’t smoke)

Some of these side effects improve over the first 3 months on the Pill. If they’re bothersome or don’t get better, a doctor may prescribe a different brand.

The Pill also has some effects that many users enjoy. It can make periods lighter, reduce cramps, and improve acne. Combination birth control pills have also been found to protect against:

• some kinds of breast disease
• anemia
• ovarian cysts (little sacs in the ovaries filled with liquid)
• cancers of the ovaries and endometrium (lining of the uterus)

Who Can Use Birth Control Pills?

Someone who can remember to take a pill each day and wants excellent protection from pregnancy can use birth control pills.

In some cases, medical conditions make the use of the Pill less effective or more risky. For example, it’s not recommended for anyone who has had blood clots, liver problems, or some kinds of migraine headaches.

People with high blood pressure that’s under control can sometimes use the Pill if their doctor monitors them. Anyone who has had unexplained vaginal bleeding (bleeding that’s not during their periods) or who might be pregnant should talk with their doctor.

Where Are Birth Control Pills Available?

One kind of mini-pill is available without a doctor’s prescription online and in places like drugstores. Doctors can prescribe other kinds of birth control pills. They’ll ask about the patient’s health and family medical history, and do an exam. This might include a pelvic exam. They’ll explain when to begin taking birth control pills and what to do if any are missed.

The doctor might do a blood pressure check a few months later and make sure there are no other problems. After that, people who have sex you should get routine exams every 6 months to a year, or as recommended.

It’s not safe to take someone else’s birth control pills.

How Much Do Birth Control Pills Cost?

The Pill usually costs between $0–$50 a month, depending on the type. Many health clinics (like Planned Parenthood) sell birth control pills for less. And birth control pills and doctor visits are covered by many health insurance plans.

What Is the Chickenpox/Varicella Vaccine?

The varicella vaccine protects against chickenpox (varicella), a common and very contagious childhood viral illness. It also protects against shingles. It is a live attenuated vaccine, which means it contains a weakened form of the virus.

When Do Kids Get the Chickenpox Vaccine?

Kids get the varicella vaccine when they’re between 12 and 15 months old. They get a booster shot for further protection at 4 to 6 years of age.

Kids who are older than 6 but younger than 13 who have not had chickenpox or the vaccine should get the 2 doses given 3 months apart. Kids 13 years or older should get their 2 vaccine doses 1 to 2 months apart.

Kids can get the varicella vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. Sometimes it’s given to kids up to 13 years old in combination (in the same shot) with the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella in a vaccine called MMRV.

Why Is the Chickenpox Vaccine Recommended?

Chickenpox used to be common in the U.S., causing many hospitalizations and even deaths. Since the vaccine was introduced in 1995, it has prevented millions of infections every year. It prevents severe illness in almost all kids who are vaccinated. It’s also very effective in preventing mild illness. Vaccinated kids who do get chickenpox generally have a mild case.

If a person with no immunity to the virus is exposed to someone with chickenpox or shingles, they are likely to get infected because the virus is so contagious. Giving the vaccine within 3 to 5 days after exposure can help to prevent the infection or make it less serious.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of the Chickenpox Vaccine?

Possible mild effects are pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given. Some kids have a fever, and there is a very small risk of febrile seizures, especially after vaccination with MMRV. As with any vaccine, there is a small risk of fainting, and a very small chance of an allergic reaction.

A very mild chickenpox rash can happen up to 1 month after the shot. It may last for several days but will clear up on its own without treatment. While the rash is still there, the virus can spread to someone who isn’t immune to chickenpox. So while someone has a rash, they should stay away from infants and people with a weak immune system. There is a very small risk of getting shingles years after getting the varicella vaccine, but this is much less common than getting it after having had chickenpox.

When to Delay or Avoid the Chickenpox Vaccine

Simple colds or other minor illnesses should not prevent vaccination. Your doctor might reschedule the vaccine if your child has a more serious illness.

Talk to your doctor about whether the vaccine is a good idea if your child:

• ever had a serious allergic reaction, or any allergic reaction to an earlier dose of varicella vaccine or its components, which include gelatin and the antibiotic neomycin
• has a disorder that affects the immune system (such as cancer)
• is getting steroids or other medicine that weakens the immune system (including chemotherapy or radiation therapy)
• has a sibling or parent who was diagnosed with an immune system problem
• takes aspirin. People who take aspirin should stop for 6 weeks after getting the chickenpox vaccine.
• has gotten any other vaccines in the past month or blood products in the past few months (such as from a transfusion)
• has tuberculosis

The doctor may choose not to give the vaccine or to postpone it, or they may decide that the benefits of vaccinating your child outweigh the potential risks.

Pregnant women should not get the chickenpox vaccine until after they give birth.

Caring for Your Child After the Chickenpox Vaccine

Check with your doctor to see if you can give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain or fever and to find out the right dose.

A warm, damp cloth or a heating pad on the site of the shot may help reduce soreness, as can moving or using the arm or leg.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call your doctor if:

• You aren’t sure if the vaccine should be postponed or avoided.
• There are problems after the vaccination.

What Are Booster Shots?

A booster shot is a dose of vaccine given after a person has had the original vaccine (sometimes called a primary dose or, if more than one dose, primary series). Immunity from the original vaccine can fade over time, and a booster shot can help the immune system “boost” the protection it provides.

What Booster Shots Do People Get and When Do They Get Them?

Booster shots are given for many vaccines that kids and adults get. These include:

• Hib: The Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is given to kids in 2 or 3 doses when they’re 2–6 months old. They get a booster dose when they’re 12–15 months old.
• MenACWY: This meningococcal vaccine is given at age 11–12 years. A booster dose is given at age 16. Kids who have a weak immune system might need to get the primary dose earlier, and then booster doses every few years.
• MenB: This meningococcal vaccine is usually offered as optional at age 16–18, but is recommended as routine for kids 10 years and older who have specific conditions that weaken their immune system. They’ll get a booster dose a year after the primary dose and then every 2–3 years for as long as they’re at higher risk for meningococcal disease. The vaccine also is recommended if there is an outbreak of the disease (when it happens in greater numbers than expected in a particular area).
• DTaP/Tdap: This vaccine is given as a series of 3 shots when kids are 2, 4, and 6 months old. They get booster shots at ages 15–18 months, 4–6 years, 11–12 years, and then every 10 years. Pregnant women get a booster shot as well.
• IPV: Kids get this vaccine to protect from polio as a series of 4 shots when they’re 2 months–6 years old. Adults who are at risk for exposure to polio can get a one-time booster dose.

Are the Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines Considered Booster Shots?

Experts recommend that everyone age 6 months or older:

Even though these repeated flu and COVID-19 vaccines work by “boosting” the immune system response, experts don’t call them booster shots. That’s because they differ from the previous vaccines. They’ve been updated to fight the viruses as they change over time. They don’t just boost previous immunity — they provide new immunity. So health experts call them the annual flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccine. But COVID-19 vaccines given after the primary series were called booster shots, so some people still call them that.

Talking with parents about birth control, like the Pill, might seem awkward. But they could surprise you — many are open to it because you’re showing them that you want to be safe.

Some people feel like they can’t go to their parents, though, or don’t want them to know they’re having sex. In this case, you can still get birth control from your doctor, a health clinic like Planned Parenthood, or a school’s student health center. During the visit, you can ask questions and learn what birth control method is best for you.

Is What I Say Private?

When you talk with a doctor, what you say stays private. The doctor can’t share the information with your parents unless you say it’s OK.

If you go to a student health center, check its privacy rules first.

What About Health Insurance?

Many kinds of birth control are covered by health insurance. If you’re on a parent’s plan, they may know if insurance pays for it when the see the bill. You can pay for birth control without using health insurance, but it will likely cost more.

Often, it’s cheaper to get birth control from a health clinic than from a doctor’s office.

What Else Should I Know?

One type of birth control pill is available online and in places like drugstores. Though you don’t need a prescription to get it, it’s still a good idea to talk with your doctor first. You can find out if it’s right for you and how to take it correctly.

Another benefit of seeing your doctor is learning about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and how to help prevent them. STDs can spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex; using fingers; or by other sexual contact. That’s why it’s important to use a second method of birth control — like a condom, finger condom, or dental dam — each time you have sex.

The only method that fully prevents STDs and pregnancy is abstinence (not having sex).

Some people carry condoms in their wallet so they’re prepared in case they have sex. But that isn’t the best place for them. Over time, the condom material can wear down, making it weaker and more likely to break. Using a broken condom during sex can make it easier to get a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and lead to pregnancy.

Here’s condoms can get damaged — and better places to keep them.

How Can Condoms Get Damaged When Stored?

If you’ve kept a condom in a wallet, its wrapper can look fine, but the condom inside might not be. Condoms can get folded when you open and close a wallet. They can also become worn from pressure if you sat on the wallet.

It’s easy to forget you’re carrying a condom and leave it in your wallet for a long time. Condoms have expiration dates, and older condoms that have expired may not work as well as new ones. Old condoms are more likely to break down.

Keeping condoms in other places also can damage them. Condoms can get too hot, bent, and worn in back pockets. Condoms and their wrappers might rip if carried next to sharp things like keys. If a wrapper gets torn, the condom can dry out, making it more likely to break.

What’s the Best Way to Store and Carry Condoms?

To help protect condoms at home, keep them in your bedside drawer or somewhere that doesn’t get too hot, cold, or humid. A bathroom isn’t a good storage place. Think about putting them where you keep your phone, wallet, or other items you always take with you. That way you’ll remember to bring the condoms too.

Before you go out, put a few condoms in your purse or jacket pocket. It’s also OK to carry them in a front pants pocket for a few hours. You can put any unopened ones back when you get home.

What Else Should I Know?

Sometimes condoms can tear even if you store and carry them the right way. If you have sex and a condom breaks (or slips off), you and your partner should get tested for STDs.

If either of you could get pregnant, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about emergency contraception (a way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex). You can also go to a health clinic like Planned Parenthood.

What Are Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that treat infections caused by bacteria, a type of germ. Some bacteria are good for our bodies, but others cause illness. Bacterial infections happen when harmful bacteria enter the body and multiply.

How Do Antibiotics Work?

Antibiotic (an-ty-by-AH-tik) medicines treat infections by killing bacteria or stopping them from growing and multiplying. Bacteria are different from other kinds of germs (like viruses and fungi). Antibiotics are effective only against bacteria. That means they won’t work against illnesses like colds or the flu.

What Are the Types of Antibiotics?

Antibiotics come in different forms. Doctors might prescribe them as:

• liquids or pills that are swallowed
• topical creams (applied to skin). Many of these are also available without a prescription at drugstores and superstores. 
• injections (shots) given directly into the muscle
• a special liquid form put into an IV line (into a vein). IV antibiotics are usually given (or at least started) in the hospital. Kids can also safely get IV treatment at home.

What Problems Can Antibiotics Treat?

Many infections and other problems caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, including:

How Should I Give My Child an Antibiotic?

If your child needs an antibiotic:

Follow the doctor’s directions. Make sure to give the right amount at the right times.

Know how to give the medicine. Check the label if you aren’t sure. Some antibiotics might have special directions for use, such as taking them on an empty stomach, with a meal, or with lots of water. While on some kinds of antibiotics, kids might need to limit their sun exposure or stop taking other kinds of medicine.

Give all the doses. Your child should take all doses of the medicine as directed, even if they start to feel better. This is the best way to kill the harmful bacteria. If they stop taking the antibiotics early, the infection may not be fully treated and may come back and be harder to treat.

Store the medicine carefully. Some antibiotics need to be in the refrigerator. Hot temperatures can affect antibiotics, so don’t keep them in hot places like your car. If you have questions about how to store the medicine, check the label or talk to the pharmacist. Keep all medicines out of reach of young children.

Follow up when your child is done taking the medicine. The doctor might want to see your child after they’re done taking the antibiotics to make sure the infection is gone.

What Do Antibiotic Overuse and Resistant Bacteria Mean?

Antibiotic overuse is when antibiotics are used when they’re not needed. Overprescribing of antibiotics has led to resistant bacteria. These germs are harder to treat because they no longer respond as well to antibiotic treatment. Some bacteria are now resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics.

What Can Help Prevent Antibiotic Overuse and Resistant Bacteria?

Doctors prescribe antibiotics only for infections they think the drugs will help treat. It can be tempting to ask your doctor for antibiotics when your child is sick. But they won’t help when an illness is likely due to a virus. Instead, talk to the doctor about ways to treat the symptoms to help your child feel better.

If your doctor does prescribe antibiotics:

• Give your child the antibiotics exactly as prescribed. They should not stop taking them early, even if they feel better.
• Only give your child the antibiotics prescribed for them for that infection.
• Don’t give antibiotics prescribed for your child to someone else.
• Don’t save leftover doses for “next time.” Doctors pick an antibiotic very carefully to treat each bacterial infection. So antibiotics for one infection might not work against another infection caused by different bacteria. Throw out leftover antibiotics or get rid of them through a medicine take-back program in your community. Talk to your pharmacist if you need help.

What Side Effects Can Antibiotics Cause?

Antibiotics can cause such side effects as diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, a rash, and yeast infections. Most side effects usually are mild and stop when a person is done taking the medicine. Check with your doctor, though, if your child has a rash or a yeast infection. A rash could be just a side effect that will go away or could be a sign of an allergy. A yeast infection might need treatment to get better.

If your child has an upset stomach or diarrhea while taking antibiotics, ask the doctor if they should take probiotics. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that help keep the intestines healthy. Also, when antibiotics kill the “good” bacteria in the intestines, bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C diff., for short) can overgrow and cause an infection. This can cause diarrhea and other problems and needs treatment to get better.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call the doctor if your child is on an antibiotic and:

• doesn’t start to feel better or still has a fever within 48 hours of starting the antibiotic
• has stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• has blood in the poop
• has trouble taking the antibiotic
• develops a new rash
• seems to be getting worse

Go to the ER if your child:

• has trouble breathing
• has trouble swallowing
• has swelling of the throat or tongue

Rarely, an infection can get much worse, leading to a medical emergency called sepsis. You know your child best. Call the doctor or get medical help right away if your child is sick and not getting better, seems sicker than usual to you, or has an infection that’s not getting better or gets worse.

What Else Should I Know?

Besides treating bacterial infections, antibiotics sometimes are used to prevent them. A child who gets a lot of UTIs, for example, might take a small dose of antibiotics to make them less likely to come back.

Doctors also might give “prophylactic” antibiotics to patients before an operation to help prevent skin infections around the surgical area.

What Is an Ependymoma?

An ependymoma (ep-en-deh-MO-muh) is a group of abnormal cells (a tumor) that forms in the brain or spinal cord. Most ependymomas are treated with surgery and radiation therapy. Some children may also have chemotherapy (chemo).

What Happens With an Ependymoma?

Cells called ependymal (ep-EN-deh-mul) cells line the spinal cord and ventricles (spaces) in the brain. Sometimes ependymal cells become abnormal and group together. When this happens, it forms an ependymoma.

Most ependymomas in children are benign (they grow slowly and aren’t likely to spread), but they can be cancerous (they grow quickly and are likely to spread). Ependymomas that spread can move to other parts of the brain and spinal cord through cerebral spinal fluid (the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord). The tumors don’t usually move to other parts of the body.

What Causes Ependymomas?

Doctors aren’t sure what causes ependymomas. People with a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 2 (or NF2, which causes benign tumors to grow in and under the skin and other problems) are more likely to have them.

What Are the Types of Ependymomas?

There are many different kinds of ependymomas. In kids, the tumors usually happen in the brain but can also grow in the spinal cord. Doctors group ependymomas by where the tumor is, how aggressive it is (how fast it grows), and changes in the DNA of the tumor’s cells.

What Are Signs & Symptoms of Ependymomas?

The signs and symptoms of an ependymoma depend on where it is and how old the child is. An ependymoma in the brain can lead to:

• nausea and/or vomiting
• headaches or blurry vision
• confusion
• neck pain
• seizures
• balance problems
• crankiness

An ependymoma in the spinal cord can lead to:

• back pain
• leg weakness
• problems urinating (peeing) or pooping

How Are Ependymomas Diagnosed?

To diagnose an ependymoma, doctors will ask about symptoms and do an exam. They’ll also order imaging tests like an MRI. These tests let them look inside the brain or spinal cord to see if any areas look different.

Sometimes the ependymoma can be diagnosed from the exam and imaging tests. Other times, it may not be clear what kind of tumor it is, so a biopsy may be needed. With this test, doctors take a piece of the tumor and look at it under a microscope. They may use a needle or do the biopsy during surgery to remove the tumor.

Ependymoma cells can spread throughout the brain and spine, so doctors will do more tests, including a spinal tap. This lets them get a small sample of cerebral spinal fluid to check.

When the doctors have the information they need, they can create a treatment plan.

How Are Ependymomas Treated?

Treatment for an ependymoma usually starts with surgery to remove the tumor as well as radiation therapy. Some children may also have chemo.

After finishing treatment, kids will need regular follow-up so doctors can see how they’re doing. Because an ependymoma can come back, kids will need an MRI several times a year for the first few years, then less often. This helps doctors find any problems early so they can work with families to make a treatment plan.

Doctors are looking for new ways to treat ependymomas. Some kids might be able to join a clinical trial. This is a study researchers do to see whether a new treatment works well and is safe. To find out if it or a different treatment is a good choice for your child, talk with their doctor.

Who Is on the Care Team?

A team of specialists works together to care for a child with an ependymoma. They may include:

What Else Should I Know?

If your child has an ependymoma, it can help to find support from members of the care team, friends and family, and other parents who’ve gone through the same thing.

When talking with your child, it’s best to be honest. But give information that fits their age and emotional maturity. Make sure kids know that the tumor isn’t because of anything they did. If you need help answering questions or don’t know what to say, a member of the care team can help.

The future for kids with brain tumors is better than ever. You can find more information and support online at:

What Is an Astrocytoma?

An astrocytoma is a group of abnormal cells (a tumor) that forms in the brain and spinal cord. The kind of astrocytoma (as-treh-sy-TOH-muh) that happens most often in kids is usually treatable and goes away for good.

What Happens With an Astrocytoma?

Astrocytomas develop from star-shaped brain cells known as astrocytes. Most astrocytomas in children are benign (they grow slowly and aren’t likely to spread), but they can be cancerous (they grow quickly and are likely to spread).

What Causes Astrocytomas?

Doctors don’t know what causes astrocytomas. But some kids are more likely to develop them, including those who:

What Are the Types of Astrocytomas?

The main types of astrocytomas are low-grade and high-grade. Low-grade tumor cells look more like normal cells and grow more slowly than high-grade tumor cells. Most astrocytomas in children are low-grade.

Low-Grade Astrocytomas

Low-grade astrocytomas in kids grow slowly and usually don’t spread. Often, surgeons can remove them. But some tumors can form in an area (like the optic nerve, between the eye and brain) that makes them hard to take out. Low-grade astrocytomas that can’t be removed are treated with chemotherapy (chemo) or radiation therapy.

High-Grade Astrocytomas

High-grade astrocytomas are more aggressive (they grow and spread quickly) than the low-grade kind. They’re also harder to treat. Kids will need chemo and radiation therapy along with surgery.

What Are Signs & Symptoms of Astrocytomas?

Some astrocytomas don’t cause any signs or symptoms. But when they do, the signs can vary depending on where the tumor is and other things.

An astrocytoma can cause symptoms by pressing on parts of the brain near it. The tumor also can lead to a buildup of spinal fluid and pressure in the brain (hydrocephalus).

Signs and symptoms of an astrocytoma can include:

• vision problems or headaches
• seizures
• trouble standing or walking and weakness of the face, arms, or legs
• poor coordination
• confusion or slurred speech
• changes in behavior
• increased head size in babies and young toddlers
• head tilting
• vomiting

How Are Astrocytomas Diagnosed?

To diagnose an astrocytoma, doctors will ask about symptoms and do an exam. They’ll also order imaging tests like an MRI. These tests let them look inside the brain to see if any areas look different.

Doctors also do a biopsy (taking a piece of the tumor to look at under a microscope), which lets them find out what kind of tumor it is and whether it’s low-grade or high-grade. The biopsy may be done with a needle or during surgery to remove the tumor. Doctors also might order blood tests.

When the doctors have the information they need, they create a treatment plan.

How Are Astrocytomas Treated?

Treatment for an astrocytoma usually begins with surgery. That’s often the only treatment needed for low-grade tumors. For high-grade tumors, children also need chemo and radiation therapy.

After finishing treatment, kids will need regular follow-up so doctors can see how they’re doing. Because an astrocytoma can come back, kids will need an MRI several times a year for the first few years, then less often. This helps doctors find any problems early so they can work with families to make a treatment plan.

Research about genetic changes in tumors has led to treatments called targeted therapies. The treatments target the genetic changes. Targeted therapies are helping children with astrocytomas.

Doctors keep looking for new ways to treat astrocytomas. Some kids might be able to join a clinical trial. This is a study researchers do to see if a new treatment works well and is safe. To find out if it or a different treatment is a good choice for your child, talk with their doctor.

Who Is on the Care Team?

A team of specialists cares for a child with an astrocytoma. The team may include:

What Else Should I Know?

If your child has an astrocytoma, find support from members of the care team, friends and family, and other parents who’ve gone through the same thing.

When talking about the tumor with your child, it’s best to be honest. But give information that fits their age and emotional maturity. Make sure kids know that the tumor isn’t because of anything they did. If you need help answering questions or don’t know what to say, a member of the care team can help.

The future for kids with brain tumors is better than ever. You can find more information and support online at: