Leukemia causes uncontrolled growth of white blood cells. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explains that "when a child has leukemia, the bone marrow begins to make blood cells that don't mature properly." These immature cells continue to reproduce and eventually prevent the healthy cells from reproducing. Many of the symptoms of childhood leukemia arise from too many immature white blood cells or not enough other cells.
Aches and Pains
Children often develop achy bones because the blood marrow in their limbs is bursting at the seams with immature while blood cells. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explains that sometimes they experience pain in the stomach area because leukemia cells tell to pool together around the kidney, spleen and liver.
Fatigue and Pallor
Children with leukemia fatigue easily and become pale and wan because they they are anemic. Anemia occurs when the bone marrow is so crowded with leukemia cells that it no longer makes red blood cells. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explains that this problem can be treated with blood transfusions.
Bruising
Kids with leukemia often bruise very easily because they have low platelet counts. If platelet levels get dangerously low, infusion of platelets may temporarily relieve the problem. Like red blood cells, platelets are produced in bone marrow. Platelet production goes down when the marrow is crowded with leukemia cells.
Infections
Although leukemia cells are a type of white blood cell, they cannot help fight infection because they are immature. Since kids with leukemia lack mature white blood cells, they are prone to all sorts of infection. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explains that transfusions of mature white cells are sometimes necessary if kids get infections that they cannot shake.
