What are the Symptoms of Leukemia in Children?

Leukemia affects the genetic buildup of a patient’s bone marrow, which is where new blood cells are made. Some forms of leukemia primarily affect young children and teens under the age of 20. Knowing the common signs and symptoms of childhood leukemia can help to get an early diagnosis and begin treatment.

Depending on the type of leukemia diagnosis, the symptoms may vary among each patient. However, patients with childhood leukemia can experience similar signs and symptoms to other health conditions, making this cancer difficult to diagnose at times.

The most common symptoms of leukemia in children include the following:

• Fatigue

• Fever and chills

• Pale skin

• Persistent fatigue, weakness

• Lack of appetite

• Headaches

• Frequent and/or severe infections

• Bleeding or bruising

• Recurring nose bleeds

• Excessive sweating

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Bone and joint pain

• Swelling in the abdomen, liver, and spleen

• Petechiae (red, tiny dots underneath the skin)

These symptoms arise from how childhood leukemia affects the blood cells, potentially causing anemia, abnormal white blood cells, and low blood platelet counts. In addition, the damage to these blood cells can contribute to symptoms like fatigue and weakness in adolescents.

“Because leukemia crowds out other vital cells in the bone marrow, the child may experience symptoms related to a deficiency in essential cells such as red blood cells (RBC) or white blood cells (WBC),” said Krista Elkins, BA, RN, CFRN, NRP, CCP-C, a registered nurse specialist at Health Canal.

In addition, Elkins mentions that if a child doesn't have enough white blood cells (WBCs), they are more susceptible to developing infections like fevers.

Many forms of leukemia are commonly diagnosed cancer among children and teens. According to the American Cancer Society, 3 out of 4 children diagnosed with leukemia have acute lymphoblastic (or lymphocytic) leukemia (ALL), while the remaining patients have acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In addition, leukemia is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents younger than 20.

According to the National Cancer Society, childhood leukemia can develop in patients in the early stages of their development. The most common age for childhood leukemia to occur is between two and five years for ALL and within the first two years of life for AML.

It can be challenging to spot leukemia symptoms in children, as they often are similar to other common illnesses and diseases. With this in mind, if parents and caregivers are concerned about their child displaying these symptoms, they should investigate them.

“Many of the symptoms that leukemia may cause in children might have causes other than cancer, so your child needs to see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out any other potential diagnoses,” said Elkins.

Visiting a doctor can help patients and their families receive an official diagnosis of childhood leukemia.

A doctor may use the following testing procedures to diagnose leukemia:

• Physical exam

• Medical history

• Bone marrow test

• Blood tests

• Genetic tests

Once a diagnosis of childhood leukemia is received, patients and their families can seek various treatment options like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and supportive care.