There are several common signs of leukemia in children which are important for parents to know.
The first sign is infection. Leukemia in kids very often causes fever which does not respond to the treatment with antibiotics. This is due to a small amount of white blood cells, in particular mature granuloctyes. As it increases the production of white blood cells but this type of cells cannot protect against an infection.
The next leukemia signal is abnormal bleeding and bruising.
Leukemia generally decreases the blood platelets production besides it provokes bruises. Even a small cut can cause abnormal bleeding that lasts much longer than usually. Sometimes chidren suffer from repeating nosebleedings.
Joint and bone pain can also indicate child leukemia.
Bone and joint pain are evolved by the leukemic cells deposition under the bone surface layer.
Abdominal region swelling
Liver enlargement as well as liver swelling are the symptoms of leukemia in children but very often they are refered to the fact that the stomach in children is often full.
Leukemia affects the lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes can be easily noticed near the surface of the body. MRI scan as well as CT scan can detect swollen nodes of the lymph within the chest and abdomen.
Thymus enlargement
Thymus swelling and lymph nodes within the chest tighten the windpipe. This provokes difficult breathing, as well as coughing and even suffocation.
Headache and vomiting
Extramedullary spread is leukemic cells spreading outside the bone marrow. Leukemic cells can spread to the lungs, heart, kidneys, intestines, the central nervous system, ovaries and testicles.
Weakness and fatigue
Leukemic cells when spread to the gums evolve bleeding and pain. If leukemia extends to the skin, this causes dark coloured spots.
Granulocytic sarcoma is the term used to define the cases when AML is noticed under the skin or any other parts of the body. Extreme wealness and fatigue as well as slurring of speech are the common symptoms in children with AML.