What are the Symptoms of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Ways to Recognise Early Signs of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Finding out the symptoms of ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) earlier is essential because it helps in the faster treatment and recovery and prevents any further complications. The initial symptoms of ALL are commonly fatigue, frequent infections, bleeding from the gums, bone pain, Fever, frequent infections, frequent or severe nosebleeds. The symptoms of ALL in children include Fever, bone pain, pale skin and, in a few cases swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin- like symptoms.

To identify Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia symptoms, a medical professional can go through blood   tests, bone marroe biopsies, CT or MRI scans. Finding out the ALL symptoms at home is not possible. However, ALL symptoms like a persistent fatigue, frequent nose bleeds, Fever, night sweats, weight loss warn you about future conditions.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is seen in countries such as India, United States, China, Brzail, Russia, etc. ALL has caused an estimated 1400 deaths yearly in the United States alone. Thus, it is better to find out the symptoms of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to provide proper treatment. The early symptoms of ALL in women may disturb their daily house chores. Let's discuss the symptoms of  acute lymphoblastic leukemia

ALL Symptoms

There are many ALL symptoms that help determine if a person is affected by ALL.

What are the Symptoms of ALL?  

The following are the common symptoms of ALL:

• Fatigue or weakness
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Pale skin
• Frequent or severe infections
• Frequent bleeding
• Bruising
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Night sweat
• Weight loss
• Paleness
• Red, pinhead-sized bleeding spots on the skin
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Unexplained weight loss

Signs of ALL

There are many signs of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia that have to be found out before it leads to dangerous conditions.  

Earlier we have gone through major Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia  symptoms; now let's see the signs of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The signs of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia include :

• Pain in the bones
• Pain in the stomach
• Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs
• Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin
• Frequent infections
• Testicular swelling
• Skin rashes
• Eye pain or vision changes

Call your doctor if you notice any persistent signs and symptoms of ALL that fear you. Many signs and symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukemia mimic those of the flu. Although, the flu signs and symptoms sooner improve with time. However, if you do not find any improvement in the signs and symptoms of ALL, then immediately contact make an appointment with your concerned doctor.

What is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia?

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bones where white blood cells are made. Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It is one of the most common and fast growing cancer that starts in the bone marrow and can spread throughout the body. It primarly affects small children aged from 2 to 5 years. Although Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia can also occur in adults as well. There are various types based on which white blood cells are affected.

 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a serious condition, but if treated properly and on time, then in many cases you can cure it.

Types of ALL

There are different types of ALL. Here are the different Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) types.

• B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: This is the one of the most common type. It affects B cells which make antibodies and fight infection. It accounts for about 85 out of 100 for childhood cases and 75% to 80% out of every 100 adult cases.
• T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: This type affects T cells, which kill germs, help you in fighting infections and supporting other immune cells. In childhood cases it accounts for about 12% to 15%  and  25% in adult cases.
• Natural Killer (NK) acute lymphoblastic leukemia: This is the third and very rare type. It includes NK cells, which are part of the immune system and help destroy infected or cancerous cells.

Risk factors of ALL

We have discussed the symptoms of ALL, so let's see the risk factors. There are some risk factors for ALL, they include :

• The highest risk is at younger and older individuals who have undergone through certain types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for other kinds of cancer.
• Children under 15 and older adults above 50 may have an increased risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia.
• The risk is also to the people exposed to very high levels of radiation, like survivors of a nuclear reactor accident, have an increased risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia.
• Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome can also increase the risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
• According to a research, girls under age 1 are associated with higher risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia than boys. Boys over age 1 are at higher risk.

The methods to manage the symptoms of ALL include:

Foods to Eat in ALL

Eating some foods helps with fast recovery from ALL. Here are the foods to be included during ALL.  

Foods to Strictly Avoid during ALL

There are some foods which have to be avoided to prevent further complications. The following are the foods that individuals should avoid during ALL:

Summing Up

We have discussed about the symptoms of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. In both adults and children there are many symptoms of ALL. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia signs in kids and older individuals are fatigue, frequent infections, pain in the bone, swollen lymph nodes, and weight loss. In some cases, patients may face changes in the vision, testicular swelling, or skin rashes.

ALL is categorised into three types such as B-cell ALL, T-cell ALL, and the rare Natural Killer (NK) cell ALL, depending on which lymphocyte is affected 1. It is advisable to find out the symptoms and signs of ALL so that individual can go for the treatment at the right time. Treatment includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and sometimes stem cell transplantation.