One of the most common oncological diseases in children is leukemia (blood cancer or leukemia). With this disease, the blood cells degenerate into malignant cells, displacing the normal hematopoietic tissue. The pathological process from the bone marrow passes into the blood, affecting the vital organs (liver, spleen, brain, lymph nodes). Reducing the number of normal cells in the blood leads to anemia, suppression of immunity, increased bleeding, the development of infections.
The causes of leukemia in children
To answer unambiguously on the rather complicated question "why children suffer from leukemia" can not still be. According to one theory, the cause of the development of the disease may be a violation of the composition and structure of the medullary cell.
More often in the risk zone are those children who have:
- the presence of genetic diseases;
- congenital disorders of the immune system;
- close relatives (especially twins) who were ill with leukemia;
- exposure to chemotherapy, radiation, or contact with benzene;
- forced depression of the immune system, when taking medications.
Types of leukemia in children
Most often, children develop acute leukemia, chronic leukemia in children is extremely rare. In addition, one form never goes into another, because each form of the disease is determined by the type of malignant cells.
- acute lymphoblastic leukemia occurs in 3 of 4 cases of blood cancer in children;
- acute myeloblastic leukemia is the second most frequent occurrence in children;
- mixed leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia are very rare in children.
Signs of leukemia in the child
- bleeding and bruising without cause;
- increased body temperature without cause;
- the appearance of dyspnea or cough;
- pallor of skin and skin;
- headaches, impaired vision and balance;
- loss of appetite and indigestion;
- the appearance of a rash on the skin and swelling in the abdomen, groin, neck.
At the appearance of the first signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor, because the timely detection of the disease and the beginning of treatment increase the chances of a full recovery.
Diagnosis is carried out using a general blood test, bone marrow biopsy, spinal puncture.
Treatment of leukemia in children
An individual treatment regimen is determined by a physician based on the type of leukemia and its stage. Often before the treatment of the underlying disease, treatment of infection and other types of complications of the disease is performed. During treatment, the child will have to remain in complete isolation from contact with the outside world in order to exclude infection with infectious diseases. Often, as a preventive measure, antibiotics are prescribed.
The treatment of the disease is aimed at suppressing the development of blast cells and their destruction in order to prevent them from entering the bloodstream. This process is incredibly difficult, because if there is at least one blast left in the blood, the disease progresses with a new force.
The main method of treating leukemia is chemotherapy, which can be carried out intravenously, intramuscularly, into the cerebrospinal fluid and in the form of tablets. Radiation therapy is also used to destroy cancer cells and reduce the size of tumor lesions.
As a preventive measure of the disease it is important to undergo regular examinations with specialists and take preventive laboratory tests. In children who have recovered from leukemia, it is necessary to carry out anti-relapse therapy. Constant monitoring of the child's blood counts is important. After curing patients are not recommended to move to other climatic conditions, and also physiotherapy procedures are contraindicated.