Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are cancers that develop in the lymphatic system, which carries disease-fighting cells called lymphocytes throughout the body. This group of lymphomas can occur in both adults and children; according to the Children's Cancer Research Fund website, many children with this disease are cured with aggressive therapy. Chances for recovery depend on the age and health of the child, the type of lymphoma, and how fast the cancer grows. The symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can appear rapidly.
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
Often the first symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is painless swelling of lymph nodes, frequently those in the neck, armpits or groin, although these can be located in other places in the body as well. Symptoms depend on location. For example, if these enlarged lymph nodes are located in the chest, the child may have problems breathing, develop a cough and have pain with deep breaths, according to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital website. The enlargement of lymph nodes in the abdomen can also cause a variety of symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or constipation.
Unexplained Fever
The changes in the disease-fighting lymphocytes can lead to symptoms like fever with no obvious cause and night sweats. According to the Merck Manual, these symptoms occur because the cancer is spreading throughout the body.
Recurrent Infections
Recurrent infections may also be a symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children as noted on the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital website. According to the Merck Manual, these infections occur because of lymphoma cells spreading throughout the bone marrow and into the lymph nodes; this process destroys the infection-fighting antibodies in the body.
Fatigue
Another symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be fatigue. As noted in the Merck Manual, this may be caused by bleeding into the digestive tract or by the destruction of red blood cells because of an abnormal spleen. The bone marrow may also be affected by the multiplication of the abnormal lymphoma cells causing fewer of the normal cells that are needed for normal function to be created. This may cause anemia leading to fatigue.
Skin Changes
Another symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children can be skin changes such as dark and scaly areas on the skin or a skin rash. The child may also develop severely and unexplained itchy skin in places. The cause of these skin changes are lymphoma cells invading the skin, as noted by the Merck Manual.
