Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common type of leukaemia diagnosed in children. The word Acute means that the Leukaemia can develop quickly.

ALL is a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow.

ALL is more common in children and young people than adults. ALL is most common in young children aged 0 – 4.

Most common symptoms in ALL

• having a high temperature (fever) and picking up infections easily and often
• bruising or bleeding easily or for no reason, from low platelets
• breathlessness, looking pale or feeling very tired due to low red blood cells.

Not every child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia has all three of these symptoms before diagnosed.

Other symptoms include, pale skin, loss of appetite, feeling tired, bone pain, frequent infections, irritability, high temperature, swollen lymph glands.

For further guidance about ALL, speak to your General Practitioner.