Many lack awareness on retinoblastoma

Kathmandu, May 17

Many children suffering from retinoblastoma — a rare form of cancer that occurs in retina — do not get treatment on time mainly due to lack of awareness about the disease, according to doctors.

According to Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon, Dr Ben Limbu there were more than 100 children in the country diagnosed with the disease and they were undergoing treatment.”But unfortunately, there are many children who are completely unaware of the fact that they are suffering from retinoblastoma and are at the risk of losing their eye sight,” he added.

“Among all kinds of cancer found in children, retinoblastoma accounts for three per cent.

Due to lack of awareness among parents, children suffering from retinoblastoma are brought to hospital very late, which ultimately leads to blindness and even death in some cases,” he informed.

In developing countries, survival rate of the children with retinoblastoma is 80 to 89 per cent, while survival rate of those in developed countries is nearly 100 per cent. More than 90 per cent children with retinoblastoma are from low and middle income countries.

“Forty per cent of retinoblastoma cases are hereditary. This type of retinoblastoma usually develops from infancy. Sporadic retinoblastoma makes for 60 per cent inherited cases,’ said Eye Specialist Nisha Shrestha.

“A timely diagnosis not only saves children’s lives but also protects their vision,” she shared.

As many as 27 eye hospitals throughout the country have been organising different awareness programmes.

“Vision problems, eye pain, redness of the white part of the eye, bleeding in the front part of the eye, bulging of the eye, pupil that doesn’t get smaller when exposed to bright light, and different colour in each iris are the symptoms of retinoblastoma. If these symptoms are found in children, parents should immediately seek medical help,” said Limbu.

 

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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/30uSlhQ