Home >
Health >
Childhood Leukemia ( Blood Cancer in
Children)
CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA (BLOOD CANCER IN
CHILDREN)
The type of leukemia that most often occurs in children is called acute
lymphoblastic leukemia, or All. As the most common form of childhood
cancer, All usually strikes between the ages of two and ten. Sometimes
described as blood cancer, it affects the white blood cells, which help
the body combat infection. In All, immature white blood cells divide
uncontrollably, accumulating in the bloodstream, bone marrow and lymph
system. This invasion of abnormal cells interferes with the production
and function of the healthy blood cells making the person with leukemia
highly susceptible to infections with little or no defense.
Q: What is the childhood leukemia? A: leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. However,
cancer in children and adolescents is rare.
Q: What happens in leukemia? A: Abnormal cancer cells (also called as blast cells)
accumulate in the marrow. They begin to crowd out the normal blood cells
that develop there causing anemia, bleeding and infections. These cancer
cells may also spread to others parts of the body such as the lymph
nodes, liver, spleen, joints and bones ultimately leading to death.
Q: What are the causes of leukemia? A: The cause of blood cancer still remains unknown.
However, few factors have been implicated. The incidence of leukemia is
high in patients;
-Exposed to radiation
-Exposed to benzene, pesticides and herbicides.
-Patients given Chemotherapeutic agents previously.
-Exposed to infections agents such as Ebstein Barr virus, HTLVI and II
virus etc.
-Patients with Bloom’s syndrome
-Patients with Fanconi’s anemia
-Patients with Down’s syndrome
-Patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome
