Mesothelioma in Children: Know the Facts

Mesothelioma is typically associated with older individuals because it is common for it to take several decades for this serious medical condition to develop. However, this does not mean that children are immune from the possibility of contracting this illness at a young age. Additionally, it is important to consider the fact that anything your child is exposed to now could have devastating consequences later on in life.

The Most Common Causes

More than 70 percent of all mesothelioma cases are linked to asbestos exposure at work. Children will not fall into this risk group, but they can still be exposed to asbestos unwittingly if you live in an old home or visit an old building on a regular basis. In fact, there are hundreds of buildings in New York that are known to currently contain asbestos, and they range from churches to office buildings. Because of this, people of all ages have the risk of eventually developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

For children, it is likely that the most dangerous risk relates to their genetics. Sadly, scientists believe that certain individuals have a genetic predisposition to contracting mesothelioma. However, there has been no conclusive evidence to determine exactly what causes most childhood cases of this serious illness. What is known is the fact that children are most likely to be diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, and this form of the disease is commonly characterized by weight loss, ascites, abdominal mass and abdominal distention.

How Dangerous is it?

This serious medical condition can be treated effectively in the early stages. Unfortunately, most mesothelioma patients are not aware that they are suffering from this form of cancer until it has become too late. Due to this, the survival rate is relatively low, and approximately 10,000 people die in the U.S. from mesothelioma each year. Therefore, if your child is exhibiting any of the symptoms of mesothelioma is essential to get into a medical professional immediately. Additional symptoms of this disease include bowel obstruction, fever, anemia and blood clotting abnormalities.

What are My Legal Options?

If your child is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important to retain an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has worked with similar cases. After all, the majority of mesothelioma cases can be directly linked to the negligent actions of another person or company, and you have the legal right to file a lawsuit against the responsible party in order to recover your child’s medical expenses. Additionally, taking legal action can help protect other people from battling this illness because the odds are high that the company or individual who is sued will end up taking corrective steps.

Even though childhood cases of mesothelioma rare, it is still important for every parent be aware of the danger so that they can remain cognizant of any potential symptoms. When in doubt, it is best to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician so that you can conclusively find out whether or not your child is suffering from this serious disease.

Health advocate Lisa Coleman shares the dangers and medical facts about mesothelioma and the impact it can have on children. She recently read online how a mesothelioma lawyer can help assist legally when a person is faced with such an issue.

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