What should I do if my child has a hemangioma?

Written by Wu Ben Rong

Pediatrics

Updated on February 03, 2025

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Infantile hemangiomas are caused by congenital genetic defects leading to abnormal development of capillaries. Currently, there are no very effective treatments available, and the method of treatment can be chosen based on the size and severity of the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is relatively small and does not affect the child's body, it can be temporarily observed, as some children's hemangiomas may gradually heal on their own. If the hemangioma is larger, or has caused some related clinical symptoms, or has affected the child's appearance, it is advisable to consider going to a regular hospital for surgical removal. Postoperative prognosis for the child is generally good, and ideal treatment results can be achieved.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong

Pediatrics

39sec

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Will hemangiomas in children regress?

Hemangiomas in children may regress, but the likelihood is relatively low. Hemangiomas are a congenital vascular malformation and usually do not have a severe impact on the child's health. However, if the hemangioma is located in more visible areas such as the head, face, neck, or arms, it can affect the child's appearance. Moreover, if the hemangioma grows large, it may also rupture, posing a risk to health. It is recommended to observe the hemangioma if there are no related symptoms initially. If the child is around five or six years old and the hemangioma has not regressed, consider consulting a reputable hospital for surgical treatment.

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Written by Zhou Chen

Oncology

1min 7sec

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Can hemangiomas resolve on their own?

Infantile hemangiomas may regress spontaneously in some cases, so for lesions that are relatively stable in growth, temporary observation without treatment is recommended, especially avoiding surgical treatment. Radiation therapy, which may cause secondary developmental deformities, is not recommended. Medicinal treatment mainly involves the use of steroids and interferons. Steroid therapy is the most common drug treatment for hemangiomas, with the first reports of using steroids for hemangiomas appearing in the mid to late 1960s. Since then, prednisone and prednisolone have been considered first-line drugs for treating life-threatening or vision-threatening hemangiomas. The effective rate of steroid treatment for hemangiomas varies from 30% to 90%. Therefore, we suggest that since infantile hemangiomas can regress on their own, lesions that are stable in growth can be temporarily observed.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong

Pediatrics

45sec

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What should I do if a child has a hemangioma on their foot?

The child has a hemangioma on their foot, and parents can temporarily observe it as some hemangiomas may heal on their own, so there is no need to rush into treatment. Moreover, a hemangioma on the foot usually does not affect the child's health, as it is neither itchy nor painful, and it does not affect the appearance either. If the hemangioma grows very rapidly, and it has not receded by the time the child is five years old, consider using injections of sclerosing agents or surgical treatment options to remove the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is small and not growing rapidly, parents may not need to undertake any special treatment, as a hemangioma on the foot does not affect the body nor does it impact appearance.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong

Pediatrics

42sec

home-news-image

What should I do if my child has a hemangioma?

Infantile hemangiomas are caused by congenital genetic defects leading to abnormal development of capillaries. Currently, there are no very effective treatments available, and the method of treatment can be chosen based on the size and severity of the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is relatively small and does not affect the child's body, it can be temporarily observed, as some children's hemangiomas may gradually heal on their own. If the hemangioma is larger, or has caused some related clinical symptoms, or has affected the child's appearance, it is advisable to consider going to a regular hospital for surgical removal. Postoperative prognosis for the child is generally good, and ideal treatment results can be achieved.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua

Pediatrics

41sec

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Which department should a baby with hemangioma see?

The department for treating infantile hemangioma should be determined based on the location, size, and severity of the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is located on the surface of the body, it is generally appropriate to consult the department of plastic and cosmetic surgery. If the hemangioma is on the face, the oral medicine department should be visited. If the hemangioma is around the eyes, then the ophthalmology department should be consulted. If the hemangioma is internal or if there are other concurrent tumorous diseases, it may be necessary to visit the pediatric hematology-oncology department or the corresponding surgical department. This would be the most appropriate and correct choice.