leukemia symptoms /Signs and symptoms of leukemia in children

Signs and symptoms of leukemia in children




 

In addition, many of the symptoms of leukemia in children can have other causes, and most of the time these symptoms are not caused by leukemia. However, if your child presents any of them, it is important that a doctor examine you so that the cause can be determined and treated if necessary.

The symptoms of leukemia are often caused by problems in the child's bone marrow, which is where the leukemia begins. As the leukemia cells accumulate in the marrow, they can displace the cells that produce normal blood cells. As a result, a child may not have enough red blood cells, white blood cells, or normal platelets. These deficiencies manifest themselves in blood tests, but they can also cause symptoms. Leukemia cells may also invade other areas of the body, which can also cause symptoms.

Symptoms caused by low red blood cell counts (anemia): red blood cells carry oxygen to all the cells in the body. A decrease in red blood cells can cause:

    Fatigue (fatigue)
    Weakness
    Feeling cold
    Dizziness or lightheadedness
    Headaches
    Difficulty breathing
    Pale skin

Symptoms caused by low white blood cell counts:

    Infections can occur due to a shortage of normal white blood cells. Children with leukemia can get infections that do not seem to go away or they may get one infection after another. Although people with leukemia can often have a high white blood cell count because they have many leukemic cells, these cells do not protect against infections in the way that normal white blood cells do.
    Fever is often the main sign of infection. However, some children may develop a fever without having an infection.

Symptoms caused by low platelet counts: platelets in the blood usually help stop bleeding. A decreased number of platelets can cause:

    Tendency to easily present bruises and bleeding
    Frequent or severe nosebleeds
    Bleeding gums

Bone or joint pain: This pain is caused by the accumulation of leukemic cells near the surface of the bone or inside the joint.

Inflammation of the abdomen: leukemia cells can accumulate in the liver and spleen and cause these organs to increase in size. This could be noted as fullness or inflammation of the abdomen. Generally the lower ribs cover these organs, but when they are enlarged the doctor can often feel them.

Loss of appetite and weight: if the spleen and / or the liver become too large, they can press on other organs, such as the stomach. This can cause the child to feel full after eating only a small amount of food, resulting in loss of appetite and weight loss over time.

Swollen lymph nodes: some leukemias spread to the lymph nodes. Enlarged nodes can be seen or felt as masses under the skin in certain areas of the body (such as on the sides of the neck, in the areas of the armpits, on the clavicle or in the groin). Inflammation of the lymph nodes found inside the chest or abdomen may also occur, but it can only be seen by imaging studies, such as CT or MRI.

In infants and children, the lymph nodes often enlarge when they fight an infection. An enlarged lymph node in a child much more often is a sign of infection than of leukemia, but a doctor should review and monitor it closely.


Cough or shortness of breath: some types of leukemia can affect the structures in the center of the chest, such as the lymph nodes or the thymus (a small organ located in front of the trachea, the breathing duct that leads to the kidneys). Enlargement of the thymus or lymph nodes in the chest can press on the trachea, causing coughing or difficulty breathing. In some cases where the white blood cell count is very high, the leukemia cells can accumulate in the small blood vessels of the lungs, which can also cause shortness of breath.

Swelling in the face and arms: the superior vena cava (upper vena cava, SVC), a large vein that carries blood from the head and arms back to the heart, passes near the thymus. An enlarged thymus can press the SVC causing the blood to "back up" in the veins. This is called SVC syndrome, and it can cause inflammation of the face, neck, arms and upper chest (sometimes with a bluish-red discoloration of the skin). It can also cause headaches, dizziness and, if it affects the brain, a change in knowledge. This syndrome can be life threatening and requires immediate treatment.

Headaches, seizures and vomiting: a few children have leukemia that has already spread to the brain and spinal cord when they are diagnosed. This can lead to symptoms such as headache, difficulty concentrating, weakness, seizures, vomiting, balance problems and blurred vision.

Skin rashes, gum problems: in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), leukemia cells can spread to the gums, causing inflammation, pain and bleeding. If they spread to the skin, it can give rise to small dark spots that may look like a common rash. An accumulation of AML cells under the skin or in other parts of the body is called a chloroma or granulocytic sarcoma.

Extreme tiredness and weakness: an uncommon but very serious consequence of AML is extreme tiredness, weakness and difficulty in speech. This can occur when a large number of leukemic cells cause the blood to become too thick and to slow circulation through the small blood vessels of the brain.

Again, it is likely that most of the symptoms presented above are due to a condition other than leukemia. Even so, it is important that a doctor examine you to determine and treat the cause of the symptoms, if necessary.