What are the consequences of not treating a child's hemangioma?
Nov 06, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
The consequences of untreated infantile hemangiomas may generally include effects on physical appearance development, increased risk of infection and ulceration, compression of surrounding tissues, bleeding risks, and impaired functional development. Impact on appearance: If a hemangioma develops in exposed areas such as the face or neck, it may gradually enlarge with age, deepen in color, or become raised, potentially leading to permanent pigmentation or scarring, thus affecting the child's physical appearance.
Untreated hemangiomas in children may generally lead to consequences such as affecting appearance development, causing infection and ulceration, compressing surrounding tissues, increasing bleeding risk, and impairing functional development. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Affecting appearance development: If a hemangioma develops on exposed areas such as the face or neck, it tends to grow larger with age, becoming darker or raised. This may result in permanent pigmentation or scarring, significantly affecting the child's appearance.
2. Causing infection and ulceration: The skin over a hemangioma is often thin and fragile, making it prone to injury from everyday friction or trauma. Once broken, the wound may be slow to heal and susceptible to bacterial infection, leading to symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pus formation, thereby worsening local tissue damage.
3. Compressing surrounding tissues: Larger hemangiomas can exert pressure on nearby blood vessels, nerves, or organs. For example, an orbital hemangioma may press on the eyeball and impair vision, while a neck hemangioma may compress the airway and affect breathing, resulting in dysfunction of the affected area.
4. Increasing bleeding risk: Hemangiomas are rich in blood vessels with thin walls, making them vulnerable to bleeding even from minor injuries. If located in areas prone to friction, repeated bleeding episodes may lead to anemia and, in severe cases, require emergency intervention.
5. Impairing functional development: Hemangiomas located in functional areas such as joints, mouth, or genitalia may restrict joint movement, interfere with eating, or disrupt urination and defecation. Over time, this may hinder the child’s normal growth and development.
Upon detecting a hemangioma in a child, prompt medical evaluation is essential to assess its type and associated risks, avoiding delays in timely intervention. Daily care should include protecting the affected area from friction and trauma. Follow medical advice regarding observation or treatment, and conduct regular monitoring of changes in the hemangioma to ensure healthy development of the child.
