12 Signs Of Leukemia In Children

Unfortunately, leukemia is present in the lives of many children today. It is a type of cancer that is most commonly found in young children and is therefore known as childhood leukemia. Although it is very difficult for children with this disease, there is a successful treatment available and therefore it does not have to be fatal. Around 2 to 3000 children, mostly 3 to 5 years old, are diagnosed with childhood leukemia in just one country.

Childhood leukemia affects the formation of white blood cells in the bone marrow, and these abnormal cells move through the bloodstream that surrounds healthy cells.

As a result , the body’s ability to fight viruses decreases which increases the child’s chances of contracting multiple infections and other illnesses.

Signs of Leukemia in Children

It is difficult to diagnose leukemia because its symptoms usually appear slowly (except in acute leukemia where symptoms appear suddenly) and because when they appear they are confused with those of other normal childhood illnesses. 

The signs of leukemia in children differ from child to child so it can be difficult to identify it.

Leukemia cells clump around healthy cells that make platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells, and they become scarce in the body. On the other hand, leukemia cells spread to other regions of the body, affecting health. However , the same symptoms can be caused by other diseases,  therefore it is important to inform the doctor of these signs quickly to treat the disease as soon as possible.

1. Tiredness. The child would start to tire quickly due to anemia which is caused by a shortage of red blood cells. The shortage can also lead to weakness and pale skin.
2. Fever and infection. The child would suffer from fevers that might not be cured with regular medicines.
3. Excessive bruising and bleeding. Because leukemia reduces blood platelets in the body, the child may have a large number of small red spots or bruises all over the skin caused by bleeding from damaged blood vessels. Your child may have nosebleeds and frequent gums.
4. Pain in bones and joints. Leukemia cells usually clump around a joint and around the surface of the bones. Therefore, a child with leukemia may commonly complain of joint and bone pain.
5. Belly swelling. The child with leukemia may also have an enlarged or swollen abdomen or belly. It is actually the liver and spleen where the swelling occurs, caused by leukemia cells clumping together in the liver.
6. Loss of weight and appetite. A child with leukemia may lose hunger and thus gradually lose a lot of weight due to enlargement of the liver and spleen. The enlarged area would press on other organs around it, including the stomach, thus limiting the capacity it can hold for food.
7. Swelling of the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are often swollen when fighting infection in young children, and their swelling is often a sign of infection. In leukemia, the lymph nodes are also enlarged and the swelling appears as lumps under the skin.
8. Respiratory problems and cough. A child with leukemia may suffer from breathing problems and coughing.
9. Swelling of the arms and face Swelling of the arms and face in children is a very dangerous sign as it can be fatal and needs immediate treatment.
10. Seizures, headaches, and vomiting. This is the sign of advanced leukemia and they are headaches, blurred vision, vomiting, and seizures. This shows that the leukemia has already spread to the central nervous system.
11. Gum hemorrhage and skin rashes. When leukemia spreads through the skin, it causes a large number of small, rash-like spots that appear through the skin.
12. Extreme weakness When the number of leukemia cells in the body reaches a high number, the blood flow slows around the small blood vessels in the brain because the leukemia cells thicken the blood and this leads to extreme fatigue and weakness.