Steroids for children

It is highly likely that your child will be given steroids at some point during their treatment.

After diagnosis

When your child has a tumour in their brain, it is not only the tumour itself that causes some of the symptoms they may have, but also the swelling surrounding the tumour. This swelling puts pressure on surrounding tissues that can cause symptoms such as headaches, sickness and seizures (fits). To help reduce the swelling, your child's doctor may prescribe steroids. As steroids are fast-acting drugs this could mean that some of the effects caused by the tumour reduce quite quickly. This does not mean, however, that the size of tumour itself has been reduced.

Before or after treatment

If your child is having radiotherapy or surgery as part of their treatment, they may be given steroids to help bring down swelling caused by these treatments. Also, if your child is having chemotherapy, a low dosage of steroids may be given if they feel seek (have nausea).

There are different ways that steroids can be taken, including:

• orally (as tablets or liquid medicine)
• by injection (to the vein or muscle)

The most common way for children to take steroids is in tablet form. The tablets are small and should not be too difficult for your child to swallow. They could practice by swallowing tic tacs.

Generally, your child will only take steroids for a few days or weeks. You will be given instructions from your child's doctor about exactly when and for how long your child will need to take steroids.

If taking steroids for longer than a week, your child is likely to be given a steroid card. It has important information about the type of steroid and the dosage that may be needed in an emergency.

You may also wish to buy your child a medical alert bracelet.

It might help to leave yourself a note or set an alarm to remind you. Getting into a routine of when your child takes their steroids is also helpful. If your child does miss a dose, do NOT try to compensate by giving them a double dose next time. Speak to your child's doctor to see what they advise.

Common side-effects of steroids include:

• feeling hungrier than usual - if not managed, this can lead to weight gain

• difficulty sleeping

• indigestion or heartburn

• infection in the mouth - known as oral thrush

• feeling thirstier or needing to wee more often
  (Speak to your child's doctor promptly, as your child's blood sugar levels may have temporarily heightened)

• swelling of the hands and feet - because their body is retaining fluid

• emotional effects - such as anxiety, irritability, temper tantrums, crying