What are the effects & signs?
Children with acute leukaemia feel generally unwell and often rapidly become really ill. Parents may notice that their child looks pale or has nosebleeds or bruises from unexplained or minor trauma. Common symptoms include -:
- Tiredness,
- Weakness,
- Weight loss,
- High temperatures that come and go,
- Frequent infections that do not get better as expected,
- Easy bruising,
- Nose bleeds or bleeding gums,
- Bone or joint pain,
- Blood in the urine or in stools,
- Skin rashes,
- Shortness of breath,
- Swollen glands; and
- Abdominal pain or discomfort.
Leukaemia may affect the brain causing cognitive defects, fits, difficulty moving limbs or personality changes. These symptoms, due to involvement of the brain, are more common in recurrent leukaemia than primary disease.
Indicators of severe functional restriction
- Failure to respond to induction therapy within 4 weeks of treatment – discuss with medical services
- Terminal illness – refer to medical services
- Failure to respond to rescue therapies– discuss with medical services
- Relapse while on therapy or within 6 months of completion of therapy
- Nasogastric feeding
- Undergoing stem cell transplant
