What are the early symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children is a malignant tumor that occurs in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx. The cause of the disease is still unclear. The clinical manifestations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children are similar to those of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adults. Common early symptoms include bloody or bloody mucus, ear symptoms, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

1. Bloody or bloody tears

If there is blood in the mucus, it may be unilateral nasal bleeding, and the blood may be inhaled into the nasal cavity. It may also be manifested as blood or small clots in the nasal secretions. It is common to discharge a small amount of bloody secretions from one nasal cavity when getting up in the morning, accompanied by mucus. However, in most cases, it is not accompanied by obvious symptoms such as headache and dizziness, and parents may mistakenly think that it is a rhinitis attack and ignore it.

2. Ear symptoms

1. Hearing loss: Because the tumor at the top of the nasopharynx blocks the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube on the affected side, the hearing on the affected side will gradually decrease, accompanied by mild tinnitus.

2. Ear pain: When the tumor on the anterior wall of the nasopharyngeal roof destroys the sphenoid process or involves the pterygopalatine fossa, it can cause reflex ear pain. This ear pain usually worsens after shaking the head and is mainly persistent.

3. Other conditions: Some children may experience a feeling of blockage or stuffiness in the ear, and sometimes persistent tinnitus. As the disease progresses, pus may flow from one ear, or the ear may become smelly.

3. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

About half of NPC patients come to the hospital with cervical lymph node enlargement as the main symptom at the time of initial diagnosis. This is mainly because cancer cells in the nasopharynx metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes through the lymphatic circulation. Therefore, once the cervical lymph nodes are found to be progressively and painlessly enlarged, the possibility of NPC should also be considered.

In addition to the above symptoms, if the tumor infiltrates the eyes, visual impairment may occur; if it invades the skeletal system, it may also manifest as bone and joint pain, pathological fractures, etc. It is recommended to seek medical treatment in time to complete relevant examinations and receive treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis. Common treatment methods include radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and surgical treatment is required if necessary.