Bright red birthmarks called Hemangiomas can appear at birth or in the first or second week of life. It is made up of additional blood vessels in the skin and resembles a rubber lump.
Hemangiomas can develop anywhere on the body, but the face, head, chest, and back are the places where they most frequently do. Infantile hemangiomas in babies typically don’t require treatment because they go away with time. By the age of 10, a child who was born with this syndrome typically shows no sign of growth. If a hemangioma affects your ability to see, breathe, or perform other tasks, you might want to think about getting treatment.
Causes of Haemangiomas:
Extra blood vessels congregate to form a tight mass called a hemangioma. It is unknown what causes the vessels to the cluster.
Risk factors for Haemangiomas:
Babies who are female, Caucasian, and delivered preterm are more likely to develop hemangiomas.
Complications for Haemangiomas:
A hemangioma may occasionally degenerate into a sore. Pain, haemorrhage, scars, or infection may result from this. It’s possible that the hemangioma will obstruct your child’s eyesight, breathing, hearing, or elimination, although this is uncommon.
Signs And Symptoms Of Hemangiomas:
Hemangiomas typically don’t cause symptoms during or after their formation, depending on the location and size. However, if they develop in a sensitive place, get large, or are numerous, they may produce certain symptoms.
Skin hemangiomas typically present as little red lumps or scrapes. As they develop, they take on the appearance of burgundy birthmarks. Because of their intense red colour, skin hemangiomas are sometimes referred to as strawberry hemangiomas.
Internally, in the organs
The symptoms of internal hemangiomas are particular to the affected organ. Hemangiomas that damage the liver or digestive system, for instance, could cause symptoms like:
- nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and appetite loss
- an abdominal sense of fullness
Diagnosis for Haemangiomas:
A healthcare professional typically makes the diagnosis after performing a physical examination and ocular assessment. During a physical exam, your doctor may make a visual diagnosis.
Only an imaging test can detect hemangiomas on organs, such as:
- a CT scan,
- MRI,
- ultrasound
The majority of the time, they are discovered by accident.
Treatment for Haemangiomas:
Hemangiomas typically don’t require treatment because they go away on their own over time. However, therapies like medication or laser surgery are available if a hemangioma impairs vision or creates other issues:
- Beta-blocker medications: A gel containing the medication timolol may be administered to the skin affected by tiny, superficial hemangiomas. A propranolol oral solution may be used to treat a severe infantile hemangioma and cause it to vanish. Usually, treatment must be sustained for up to a year. Wheezing, low blood pressure and high blood sugar are examples of side effects.
- Corticosteroid drugs: Corticosteroids may be an alternative for kids who don’t react to beta blocker therapy or are unable to take them. They can either be injected directly into the nodule or topically administered.
- Laser procedure: Sometimes a sore on a hemangioma or a small, thin hemangioma can be treated with laser surgery.
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks with your child’s doctor if you’re thinking of treating your child’s hemangioma. Take into account that the majority of infantile hemangiomas go away on their own during childhood and that there could be negative effects from medications.
