Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is probably the most frequent type of leukemia in children age ten and under. As with all forms of cancer, it is imperative that treatment begins immediately, especially as this disease progresses to a life-threatening point extremely quickly, sometimes in as little as a few weeks. Symptoms mimic many other possible diseases including flu and cold, thus ALL is usually not considered until a complete medical history has been obtained from the parents, and the child has undergone blood work with medical examination by a pediatrician.
White blood cells are needed to fight infection, but in someone with ALL the body produces abnormal versions of these cells, which tend to duplicate quickly and crowd out the red blood cells that are necessary to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from tissues in the body, causing organs to shut down.
ALL's rapid progression is one distinction from "chronic" lymphoblastic leukemia and can be present for many years. Testing such as complete blood count, liver enzyme tests and several others can confirm or rule out ALL. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, frequent fevers, weight loss, loss of appetite, bruising, joint pain, breathlessness, swelling in lower limbs, and tiny red spots or lines in the skin due to low platelet counts. The exact cause of ALL is unknown, but it is likely from damage inflicted to DNA, possibly by chemicals, drugs or radiation in our environment.
