What is Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Executive Summary

Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) represents more than a quarter of all pediatric cancers and is a blood cancer. It is the cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell involved in the body’s immune system. ALL children evolve a condition where lymphoblasts fill the bone marrow and crowd out other normal cells, preventing the production of red blood cells, many different types of normal white blood cells, and platelets. If the bone marrow is not functioning correctly, the child could experience anaemia, easy bruising, bleeding, or infection. The leukemic lymphoblasts get collected in the child’s lymph nodes and cause them to swell up. Lymphoblasts can also spread to other organs, including the liver, spleen, skin, spinal fluid, a girl’s ovaries, and testicles.

What is Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia?

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in children, representing more than a quarter of all pediatric cancers ^​1​. The word “acute” in acute lymphocytic leukaemia is because the disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells rather than mature ones. The term “lymphocytic” in acute lymphocytic leukaemia refers to the white blood cells called lymphocytes, which ALL affects. Acute lymphocytic leukaemia is also known as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood. Leukaemia begins when healthy blood cells change and grow uncontrollably. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell involved in the body’s immune system. 

About lymphocytes and lymphoblasts

Lymphocytes are formed in the bone marrow, the spongy, red tissue in the central inner part of the large bones. Lymphocytes are found in the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes. Healthy lymphocytes fight bacterial and viral infections. New lymphocytes don’t develop into mature cells in ALL but stay as immature cells called lymphoblasts.

About Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

When a child has Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the lymphoblasts fill the bone marrow and crowd out other normal cells, preventing the production of red blood cells, many different types of normal white blood cells, and platelets ^​2​. If the bone marrow is not functioning correctly, the child could experience anaemia, easy bruising, bleeding, or infection.

• Anaemia is from very few red blood cells. Red blood cells are cells of the body that carry oxygen to tissues around the body. Anaemia can lead to fatigue, irritability, sleepiness, paleness, shortness of breath, and a rapid heartbeat.
• Bleeding from injuries or bruising may occur more quickly because the blood cannot clot normally when a low platelet count. Platelets help the blood clot. 
• If the blood has very few normal white blood cells (the cells that fight infection), the infection may occur more often. Different types of white blood cells are required to fight infections caused by different germs.

The leukemic lymphoblasts get collected in the child’s lymph nodes and cause them to swell up. Lymphoblasts can also spread to other organs, including the liver, spleen, skin, spinal fluid, a girl’s ovaries, and testicles.

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