Pediatric Leukemia Symptoms
According to the American Cancer Association, leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children. Of children with cancer, one out of three have leukemia. Leukemia starts in the bone marrow, when abnormal white blood cells are created. These bad cells don't leave room for the healthy blood cells to do their work. If you notice any pediatric leukemia symptoms in your child, see a doctor right away. The earlier the doctors catch it, the better chance your child has for survival.
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Anemia
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White and red blood cells form in the bone marrow, which is the soft inner section of the bone. Red blood cells are in charge of carrying oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. When your child has leukemia, red blood cells aren't produced as quickly because the white blood cells are on overgrowth mode. So without enough red blood cells, they may feel tired and breathless. Their body tissues aren't receiving enough oxygen, which is a condition known as anemia.
Fever
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White blood cells normally help to fight infections. And even though children with leukemia have a high number of them, these cells are considered abnormal. So they don't have the same infection-fighting power as their normal counterparts. In fact, sometimes these abnormal white blood cells release a chemical that causes the child to get a fever.
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Bruising and Bleeding
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Once again, the overgrowth of white blood cells is to blame here. In this situation the white blood cells crowd out blood platelets, which are also produced in the bone marrow. Whenever you get a cut or a bump, it's the platelets that form a clot and keep you from continuously bleeding. Children with leukemia have a shortage of platelets, so there may be excessive bleeding from small cuts, nosebleeds or bleeding from the gums while brushing the teeth.
Loss of Appetite
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The liver and the spleen can become enlarged with a collection of leukemia cells. It may make your child appear as though she has a swollen belly. If the spleen and liver become big enough, they can press against the stomach. As a result, the child can't eat as much as she normally does, and you may also notice weight loss.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
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Lymph nodes are bean-shaped glands located in various parts of the body including in the neck, in the armpits and along the collarbone. They filter dead bacteria and viruses, and eliminate them from the body. In children, a swollen lymph node is often a sign that they're fighting an infection. But since some forms of leukemia spread to the lymph nodes, this can also be classified as a pediatric leukemia symptom.
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- Photo Credit anitapatterson, morguefile.com
