children s health issues
Von Hippel–Lindau Disease (VHL)
Symptoms of VHL
Typically, symptoms of von Hippel-Lindau disease appear between ages 10 and 30, but they can appear earlier. Symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumors. Children may have headaches and feel dizzy or weak. Vision may be impaired, and blood pressure may be high. Coordination may be lost. About 10% of affected children have a tumor in the inner ear, which may impair hearing. Angiomas in the retina usually cause no symptoms, but if they enlarge, they can cause substantial loss of vision. When these angiomas are present, the retina may become detached, fluid may accumulate on or under the macula (the central part of the retina), and the optic nerve may be damaged by increased pressure within the eye ( Glaucoma ). Without treatment, people may become blind, have brain damage, or die. Death usually results from complications of brain angiomas or kidney cancer. 