Ray of hope for children with vascular anomalies
Vascular anomaly, a developmental defect of blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries, lymphatic) is the most common birth defect affecting 10 in 100 live births. Most common presentations of such anomalies are seen as skin pigmentation in the form of birthmark or skin growth frequently noticed on face, neck, arms, legs or the trunk. Although 90 percent of all these skin defects either disappear or remain unnoticeable as minor skin blemish within 6 to 8 years of age, these can be severely disfiguring in remaining 10 percent cases; sometimes leading to serious complications if left untreated. Many parents do not know that birthmark (what we call a normal phenomenon and a sign of birth) is a misnomer. In most cases, birthmarks are vascular defects and can be cause for concern in certain instances for which treatment is essential. Unfortunately, most of the children who need timely and appropriate medical attention are misdiagnosed or maltreated. A significant percentage receive inappropriate treatment due to lack of expertise and sophisticated treatment facility. In order to provide appropriate treatment, Vascular Anomalies Treatment and Research Center (VATRC), the first of its kind in Bangladesh has been established recently at CARe Hospital, Dhaka in association with Vascular Anomalies Centre, Harvard Medical School, USA. They will share their expertise, provide regular consultation of referred and complicated cases and has taken initiative to trained up local doctors to deal with vascular anomalies in children of Bangladesh. The sufferings of the children living with permanent defects range from social stigma to functional impairment (vision or hearing loss if related organs are affected) or even life-threatening conditions such as blood clotting or bleeding disorder, heart failure, hypothyroidism (lack of hormone called thyroid) and stroke (brain haemorrhage). As the level of awareness and knowledge regarding vascular anomalies are extremely low, many patients at risk do not seek medical treatment at early stage or until any obvious complication. This makes treatment more complicated. Sometimes it goes beyond complete recovery. That is why timely treatment is essential to normalise the defects. Skin pigmentation present since birth or appears few months after birth that becomes large, raised, pink/red/blue in colour or if it grows with age or does not disappear as child grows, needs to be evaluated by a specialist physician. Parents should also take their child for consultation if the skin mark present in vital structure of body like nose, eye, ear or other parts of face and when more than five in number. Treatment of vascular anomalies is not always surgery and costly interventions. The methods of treatment range from simple observation by physician, medication, minor intervention to surgery.
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