Do you want to learn about the symptoms of leukemia in children? We collected the most important details for you in this article, follow and know.
Symptoms of leukemia in children
Leukemia is one of the most common types of cancer in children, and many of the symptoms of leukemia in children may be chronic, although there are symptoms that may be acute and appear suddenly. Do you want to know the symptoms of leukemia in children in detail? We provide you with all the information in the following article:
Symptoms of leukemia in children: common symptoms
Common symptoms of leukemia in children include
Anemia
Anemia occurs when the red blood cells are low, and the child may suffer from some symptoms, which include:
Tired.
Weakness.
shortness of breath.
Headache.
pale skin
feeling unusually cold
Frequent infections
Often children with leukemia have a high number of white blood cells, but often these cells do not work properly, because the abnormal cells become more than healthy white blood cells.
Thus, these abnormal cells lead to the recurrence of viral and bacterial infections and thus may lead to an increase in infections.
Bruising and bleeding
If the child has bruises, severe nosebleeds, or bleeding from the gums, these may be signs of leukemia, as a child with this type of cancer may have a lack of platelets.
Bone and joint pain
Some children suffer from pain in the bones and joints. This may be a symptom of childhood leukemia, as when leukemia develops, abnormal cells may collect within the joints and bones.
swelling
Swelling may affect certain different areas of the body, including
Abdomen: Abnormal cells accumulate in the liver and spleen.
Face and arms: pressure on the superior vena cava causes blood to pool.
Lymph nodes: Small lumps can appear on the side of the neck, under the armpits, or on the collarbone.
Cough or breathing difficulties
Leukemia affects parts of the body, including the chest, lymph nodes, or thymus gland, as these parts press on the windpipe, causing breathing difficulties.
It is also possible that a buildup of leukemia cells in the small blood vessels of the lung can cause breathing difficulties and the child may wheez.
Skin rash
Leukemia causes small, dark, rash-like spots called petechiae. Bruising and bleeding are characteristic symptoms of leukemia.
Headache, vomiting and seizures
If leukemia affects the brain or spinal cord, the child may suffer from
Headache.
Weakness.
seizures.
vomiting.
Difficulty concentrating.
Balance problems.
Blurred vision.
Other symptoms
like
lack of appetite
stomach pain.
Weight loss.
Extreme tiredness and exhaustion.
dizziness
stutter
feeling unwell
Symptoms of leukemia in children: early symptoms
Early signs of leukemia can be difficult to detect as they differ from one child to another, and therefore not all children with leukemia may present with all of the above symptoms.
It should be noted that the early symptoms depend on whether the child has acute or chronic leukemia, so when you notice any symptoms, it is best to take the child to the doctor immediately to receive appropriate treatment quickly.
Symptoms of leukemia in children: Symptoms that require an immediate visit to the doctor
You should contact the doctor immediately if your child has any of the following
Fever, where the temperature is more than 38 degrees Celsius.
persistent cough
Severe headache and sudden vomiting.
Pain in the rectal area.
A hard and distended stomach.
abdominal pain
Dark-coloured, foul-smelling stools.
A change in normal bowel patterns.
Diarrhea that lasts more than a day.
The color of the urine is red or brown.
Urinating less than twice a day.
Inability to eat and drink.
An increase in the appearance of bruises and red spots on the skin.
Nosebleeds continue for more than 10 minutes, even after applying pressure.
Methods of diagnosing leukemia in children
To diagnose leukemia in children, the doctor will initially do a physical examination by taking the patient''s medical history. He may also recommend some tests, such as:
A blood test to measure the number of blood cells and see how they appear.
Biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of leukemia.
Lumbar puncture or so-called spinal puncture to detect the spread of leukemia cells in the fluid in the brain and spinal cord.
Computed tomography to produce clearer and more detailed images than X-rays.
MRI produces detailed pictures of body parts through radio waves.
X-rays to pictures of tissues, bones, and organs.
Examination of blood cells under a microscope by examining bone marrow samples to see the number of blood-forming cells and fat cells.
