User:Joshuanoel/sandbox

Signs and symptoms

 * Signs and symptoms largely reflect marrow replacement
 * Marrow site of blood cell synthesis.
 * Increasing leukemic cells inhibit the production of new red, white cells and platelets.
 * Signs of anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, bone pain, constitutional symptoms
 * How this is differentiated from other illnesses


 * Leukemic cells can spread to other sites including the brain
 * Signs of that.


 * Cells can spread to other sites (LNs, liver, spleen, testes,

Initial symptoms can be nonspecific, particularly in children. Over 50% of children with leukemia had one or more of five features: a liver one can feel (64%), a spleen one can feel (61%), pale complexion (54%), fever (53%), and bruising (52%). Additionally, recurrent infections, feeling tired, arm or leg pain, and enlarged lymph nodes can be prominent features. The B symptoms, such as fever, night sweats, and weight loss, are often present as well.

Central nervous system (CNS) symptoms such cranial neuropathies due to meningeal infiltration are identified in less than 10% of adults and less than 5% of children, particularly mature B-cell ALL (Burkitt leukemia) at presentation.

The signs and symptoms of ALL are variable and include:
 * Generalized weakness and feeling tired
 * Anemia
 * Dizziness
 * Headache, vomiting, lethargy, nuchal rigidity, or cranial nerve palsies (CNS involvement)
 * Frequent or unexplained fever and infection
 * Weight loss and/or loss of appetite
 * Excessive and unexplained bruising
 * Bone pain, joint pain (caused by the spread of "blast" cells to the surface of the bone or into the joint from the marrow cavity)
 * Breathlessness
 * Enlarged lymph nodes, liver and/or spleen
 * Pitting edema (swelling) in the lower limbs and/or abdomen
 * Petechiae, which are tiny red spots or lines in the skin due to low platelet levels
 * Testicular enlargement
 * Mediastinal mass