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Karnataka is witnessing a gradual year-on-year emergence successful puerility crab cases, underscoring the increasing load of paediatric malignancies successful the State.
According to information from the State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO), Karnataka’s estimated caller crab cases among children and adolescents successful 2025 stood astatine 1,882, up from 1,801 successful 2023 and 1,828 successful 2024. Of the 1,882 estimated cases successful 2025, Bengaluru has contributed an estimated 349 cases, reflecting an upward trajectory implicit the years.
In 2023, Karnataka recorded 1,801 puerility crab cases - 938 boys and 863 girls. The pursuing twelvemonth saw a emergence to 1,828 cases, with 952 boys and 876 girls. The estimated 2025 figures amusement a further increase, with 966 boys and 916 girls, indicating sustained maturation successful incidence crossed the State, said Naveen T., manager (additional charge) astatine Kidwai.
About 2.1%
Speaking to The Hindu, up of the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) observed connected February 15, Dr. Naveen said that puerility cancers marque up astir 2.1% of each caller cancers detected annually successful Karnataka, wherever astir 89,215 caller crab cases were recorded successful 2025. “In Bengaluru, children are estimated to relationship for 2.1% of the city’s full crab burden, with astir 16,376 caller cases detected successful 2025 of which 349 are puerility cancers,” helium said.
In Bengaluru, 328 cases were recorded successful 2023 (167 boys and 161 girls) and 338 successful 2024 (173 boys and 166 girls). The estimated 349 cases (178 boys; 171 girls) for 2025 bespeak a gradual summation successful reporting. “While implicit numbers are tiny compared with big cancers, the expanding inclination calls for urgent attention,” helium pointed out.
Kidwai’s burden
At KMIO, the State’s apex Regional Cancer Centre, paediatric crab caseloads stay significant. In 2024, the institute recorded 648 puerility crab cases and 74 deaths, portion successful 2025 it reported 590 caller cases and 37 deaths.
Arun Kumar A.R., prof and caput of Paediatric Oncology astatine Kidwai, attributed improved outcomes to aboriginal referrals, timely diagnosis, punctual initiation of chemotherapy, broad supportive attraction and intensive management.
KMIO provides broad services including outpatient, inpatient and exigency attraction for children, supported by a 16-bed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and a 65-bed dedicated ward. Treatment costs for families beneath the poorness enactment are covered nether the Arogya Karnataka scheme, and respective non-governmental organisations assistance economically underprivileged patients from wrong and extracurricular the State. The institute runs an autologous bony marrow transplant programme and is moving towards introducing allogeneic transplantation services.
Leukaemia astir common
Highlighting patterns and challenges, Dr. Kumar said leukaemia continues to beryllium the astir communal puerility cancer, accounting for implicit 40% of cases successful boys and much than one-third successful girls. This is followed by lymphomas, tumours of the encephalon and tense system, bony cancers and kidney cancers. Brain tumours are somewhat much predominant among girls, helium noted.
Dr. Kumar said that contempt advancements successful treatment, children successful low- and middle-income countries inactive look hurdles specified arsenic delayed diagnosis, interruptions successful therapy, and attraction abandonment. “With aboriginal detection and uninterrupted treatment, much than 70% of puerility cancers are curable,” helium said.
Warning signs
He urged parents to look retired for informing signs including persistent unexplained fever, antithetic swellings, unexplained pallor, casual bruising oregon bleeding, headaches with vomiting, prolonged fatigue, abrupt value loss, a achromatic reflex successful the eye, enlarged lymph nodes and nighttime sweats. “Early diagnosis and timely involution amended endurance chances,” Dr. Kumar stressed.
Marking ICCD nether the taxable “Demonstrating Impact: From Challenge to Change,” doctors emphasised the request for greater awareness, aboriginal referrals and equitable entree to specialised paediatric oncology attraction to code the rising inclination of puerility cancers crossed Karnataka.
