Symptoms of childhood leukemia

The signs or symptoms of childhood leukemia may vary depending on the specific type of leukemia. Symptoms of acute leukemia often appear quickly, over days or weeks. Symptoms of chronic leukemia develop over a longer period of time. Other health conditions can cause the same symptoms as childhood leukemia.

The signs or symptoms of childhood leukemia include:

  • fatigue
  • weakness
  • pale skin
  • fever
  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • dark red pin-point spots under the skin caused by bleeding (called petechiae)
  • frequent infections
  • bone or joint pain that may cause limping
  • larger than normal lymph nodes
  • pain or feeling of fullness in abdomen
  • loss of appetite
  • difficulty breathing

Sometimes leukemia can spread to the central nervous system (CNS). Symptoms may include:

  • headache
  • vomiting (especially early in the morning)
  • weakness of facial and eye muscles
  • blurred vision
  • seizures
  • difficulty keeping balance

Expert review and references

  • American Cancer Society. Childhood Leukemia Early Detection, Diagnosis and Types. 2016. https://www.cancer.org.
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology. Leukemia - Acute Lymphoblastic - ALL - Childhood. 2017.
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology. Leukemia - Acute Myeloid- AML - Childhood. 2017.
  • National Cancer Institute. Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®) Patient Version. 2018.
  • Acute myeloid leukemia in children. National Childhood Cancer Foundation & Children's Oncology Group. CureSearch. Bethesda, MD: 2011.
  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. National Childhood Cancer Foundation & Children's Oncology Group. CureSearch. Bethesda, MD: 2011.
  • Weinblatt ME. Medscape Reference: Pediatric Acute Myelocytic Leukemia Clinical Presentation. 2017. http://emedicine.medscape.com/.
  • Weinblatt ME. Medscape Reference: Pediatric Acute Myelocytic Leukemia. 2017. http://emedicine.medscape.com/.

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