Investigating Contingency Risk Factors of Brain Tumor in Children and Adolescents

Based on the findings of studies, brain tumors result in the decline of pediatric performance and quality of life. Therefore, this study aims at investigating different epidemiologic, demographic and clinical factors in children and adolescents with brain tumors in Arak, Iran. This case–control study was conducted on 50 children with brain tumor (with the age range of 1.5 – 19 years) as the case group and 50 children without brain tumor as the control group. Subjects were selected from inpatients and outpatients in the Valiasr Hospital of Arak, Iran from 2010 – 2013. A questionnaire including epidemiologic, demographic and clinical information was filled out for all subjects, and the study data was analyzed in SPPS software (Version 18). There was a significant difference between the members of the two groups regarding habitation (p=0.008), the number of siblings (p=0.003), history of contact with pets or owning them (p=0.007),father’s history of constant contact with chemicals, heavy metals and pesticides (p=0.05), the consumption of vitamin and nutritional supplements during pregnancy (p=0.048), history of neurologic diseases (p=0.048), history of cancer and other malignant tumors except for those of the nervous system (p=0.005) and history of brain tumors in the first degree relatives of subjects (p=0.035). According to research results, several preventable and predictable factors are linked to pediatric brain tumors. Therefore, children prone to brain tumors are recommended to be examined and screened for these risk factors.