A disease considered rare and one that inevitably impacts parents and family members. Childhood leukemia affects about 1 in every 600 children before they turn 15. Thanks to advances in medicine, 80% are currently cured after treatment or have their lives extended for a few more years. Childhood leukemia is diagnosed as cancer of the white blood cells. It starts in the bone marrow and spreads throughout the bloodstream. From there, it can reach other parts of the body such as the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, and the entire central nervous system, as well as other organs.

Bone marrow is responsible for producing all blood cells—red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets—and is located inside the bones. It consists of stem cells, fat cells, and tissues that play a role in developing blood cells.

Child with leukemia during a medical consultation

Symptoms begin to appear due to the decrease in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These changes are detected through a blood test. Although the cause is still unknown, research indicates that childhood leukemia, like other types of cancer, is caused by DNA changes that are possibly inherited from one of the parents.

Some hereditary diseases are suggested as high risk for developing leukemia, but these cannot yet be confirmed and research suggests they are caused by genetic and environmental factors. Childhood leukemia is divided into two types: the fast-progressing type, which is acute, and the slow-progressing type, which is chronic. The most common is the acute type, which originates in the lymphoid cells of the bone marrow or directly in the cells responsible for producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Symptoms and Treatment of Childhood Leukemia

Because there is no way to prevent or avoid leukemia, let alone detect the disease early, the only way is to pay attention to the signs and symptoms. Extra care should be taken with children who suffer from some type of genetic disease, have recently had a transplant, or need treatment with immunosuppressants.

Through regular blood tests requested by the pediatrician whenever necessary, it is possible to check the count of each type of blood cell. If any alteration is found, referral to a specialist is necessary. The main symptoms of childhood leukemia are:

  • Fever – Fever is common, caused by infections that cannot be fought even with antibiotics due to low production of white blood cells, which help fight infections. It can also happen due to leukemic cells releasing debris in the body that causes fever.
  • Paleness and excessive tiredness – One of the symptoms of childhood leukemia is anemia, which causes dizziness, tiredness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin.
  • Pain in joints and bones – This is a less common symptom but is reported in many cases. Due to the accumulation of leukemic cells in the joints, pain and sensitivity in the area are present.
  • Loss of Appetite – Typically, leukemic cells settle in the liver and spleen, causing visible swelling. These can be detected during a medical examination. Due to this spleen swelling, the stomach is compressed, limiting food digestion, which gradually causes weight loss.
  • Headaches and vomiting – Since leukemic cells can spread to the central nervous system, and go to the heart, intestines, testicles, kidneys, and lungs, symptoms such as seizures, weakness, vomiting, blurred vision, and severe headaches may occur.

Coughs, respiratory problems, skin rashes, and oral problems, especially in the gum area, can also occur. All of this results from the spread of leukemic cells to various parts of the body.

Once treatment has begun, it must go through several stages. Initially, various precautions should be taken, such as controlling the lack of white blood cells, which can cause very serious infections; low platelet levels, which can cause bleeding; and the reduction of red blood cells, which can decrease the amount of oxygen needed for the heart and brain.

Therefore, treatment must be started to address these problems, which may arise due to low cell counts. Platelet and red blood cell transfusions and the use of antibiotics can be the first step in treatment. Usually, treatment continues with the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which work together to fight the diseased cells. Chemotherapy, which is the main form of treatment for childhood leukemia, aims to control the disease and its symptoms, and it is possible to restore normal cell levels.

Treatment is carried out in cycles to allow the child’s body time to recover from the aggressive medications. The average treatment time and use of chemotherapy drugs is two years. Currently, we can be encouraged by results that are increasingly positive for treatments against childhood leukemia and cancer in general. The evolution of medicine has provided us with greater chances of cure, treatment, and full recovery of the patient’s health.

See also: Childhood Diabetes – How to Detect and Manage It?

Photos: Gerolf Nikolay, searching4jphotography