Leukemia in children

Leukemia - the combined name of malignant tumorsoriginating from the hematopoietic cells. Children are susceptible to leukemia as adults, but the course of the disease may be complicated by the factor of weakness, low resistance of the organism of the child.

Symptoms of leukemia in children

In the primary stage of acute leukemia in a child often show signs of intoxication – severe asteniceski, depression, impotence, poor appetite, sleep disorder, small hobby temperature. Dermatological skin and mucous film becomes faint, sometimes there are small hemorrhages.

In the height of the disease these symptoms join pain in the long bones (femur and tibia), spine. Acute pain may be associated with leukemic infiltration of the bone marrow. A particularly striking manifestation of this period are bleeding in the skin, mucous membranes, joint cavity, brain. These can be added bleeding gums, nose, gastrointestinal tract and other organs. Considerably enlarged lymph nodes, liver and spleen. Sometimes traced invariant strengthening the salivary, submandibular, parotid and lacrimal glands, giving the face the particular swollen appearance. One of the frequent manifestations of leukemia is ulcerative and necrotic skin lesions, mucous membranes and intestinal tract. This phenomenon provokes the development of a large number of other diseases.

Often found lesions of the respiratory, kidney, cardiovascular system.

With the involvement in the pathological process of the nervous system (neuroleukemia) noted headache, vomiting, nausea, disorder of consciousness, weakness, muscle contraction, possible coma.

During remission (stabilization) normalized medical manifestations, but laboratory examination revealed anomalies that are different from the typical blood picture.

At the return of the disease deteriorates as medical picture and laboratory data.

The main hematological characteristics of acute leukemia are:

· education in peripheral blood immature defective form of layers;

· anemia (reduction in the number of pigment and erythrocytes);

· thrombocytopenia (significant decrease in number of platelets).

Optional features are:

· decrease or increase in the proportion of leukocytes;

· increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (speed coagulation – sedimentation).

It should be remembered that 10% of children changes in the peripheral bloodabsent.

In some cases, to verify the correctness of the diagnosis, there should be a puncture of the bone tissue of the brain.

Leukemia treatment in children

It is obligatory hospitalization of all patients with acute leukemia in Hematology hospital. The same applies to cases of relapse.

The content and treatment of patients should be carried out in the chambers box.

The main task of therapy is maximum destruction of leukemic cells.

In our time, anti-leukemic substances belong to six pharmacological groups: antimetabolites, alkylating agents agentiilor plants, enzyme substances, antitumor antibiotics, hormones, the list of which is infinitely replenished. For each type of leukemia has different schedules of treatment, which is necessary not only during the peak of disease and during remission.

Therapy of CNS leukemia is conducted on the background of infusion therapy and chemotherapy. The substances used for chemotherapy can be administered by lumbar puncture (directly into the spinal fluid). If no result is radiation therapy.

Also measures are taken to limit activation of the human immune system.

Used immune-modifying medications – timolin, taktivin; technology functional immunization protein, interleukin-2, IFN, etc.; technology inert immunization recovery autoplasma and autoligation that appears in children during remission; technology adaptive immunotherapy – bone marrow transplant (entering in a human body full of immune cells of the donor).

A blood transfusion is indicated for severe anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, bleeding, and severe hemorrhages.