Editing Leukemia (section)

==Signs and symptoms==
[[File:Symptoms of leukemia.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Common symptoms of chronic or acute leukemia<ref>Reference list is found at [[Commons:File:Symptoms of leukemia.png#List|image description page in Wikimedia Commons]]</ref>]]

The most common symptoms in children are easy [[bruising]], [[pale skin]], [[fever]], and an [[enlarged spleen]] or [[hepatomegaly|liver]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Clarke RT, Van den Bruel A, Bankhead C, Mitchell CD, Phillips B, Thompson MJ | title = Clinical presentation of childhood leukaemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = Archives of Disease in Childhood | volume = 101 | issue = 10 | pages = 894–901 | date = October 2016 | pmid = 27647842 | doi = 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311251 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Damage to the bone marrow, by way of displacing the normal bone marrow cells with higher numbers of immature white blood cells, results in a lack of blood [[platelet]]s, which are important in the [[Coagulation of human blood|blood clotting]] process. This means people with leukemia may easily become [[purpura|bruised]], [[hemorrhage|bleed]] excessively, or develop pinprick bleeds ([[petechia]]e).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jyothi KT, Subrahmanyam PS, Sravanthi AC |date=July 2017 |title=Application of Differential Equations in Medical Science |journal=Research Journal of Science and Technology |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=425–6 |doi=10.5958/2349-2988.2017.00074.2 }}</ref>

[[White blood cell]]s, which are involved in fighting [[pathogen]]s, may be suppressed or dysfunctional. This could cause the person's immune system to be unable to fight off a simple infection or to start attacking other body cells. Because leukemia prevents the immune system from working normally, some people experience frequent [[infection]], ranging from infected [[tonsil]]s, [[oral ulcer|sores in the mouth]], or [[diarrhea]] to life-threatening [[pneumonia]] or [[opportunistic infection]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-05|title=Types of Leukemia: Common, Rare and More Varieties|url=https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/leukemia/types|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Cancer Treatment Centers of America|language=en}}</ref>

Finally, the red blood cell deficiency leads to [[anemia]], which may cause [[dyspnea]] and [[pallor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iron deficiency anemia — Symptoms and causes |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Mayo Clinic |language=en}}</ref>

Some people experience other symptoms, such as fevers, chills, night sweats, weakness in the limbs, feeling [[fatigue (medical)|fatigued]] and other common [[flu-like symptoms]]. Some people experience nausea or a feeling of fullness due to an enlarged [[liver]] and [[spleen]]; this can result in unintentional [[Weight loss#Intentional weight loss|weight loss]]. [[Precursor cell|Blasts]] affected by the disease may come together and become swollen in the liver or in the [[lymph nodes]] causing pain and leading to nausea.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leukemia|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/39018085|publisher=Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref>

If the leukemic cells invade the [[central nervous system]], then neurological symptoms (notably [[headache]]s) can occur. Uncommon neurological symptoms like [[migraines]], [[seizures]], or [[coma]] can occur as a result of brain stem pressure. All symptoms associated with leukemia can be attributed to other diseases. Consequently, leukemia is always diagnosed through [[medical test]]s.

The word ''leukemia'', which means 'white blood', is derived from the characteristic high white blood cell count that presents in most affected people before treatment. The high number of white blood cells is apparent when a blood sample is [[Blood film|viewed under a microscope]], with the extra white blood cells frequently being immature or dysfunctional. The excessive number of cells can also interfere with the level of other cells, causing further harmful imbalance in the blood count.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leukemia: Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Types & Treatment |url=https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4365-leukemia |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Cleveland Clinic}}</ref>

Some people diagnosed with leukemia do not have high white blood cell counts visible during a regular blood count. This less-common condition is called ''aleukemia''. The bone marrow still contains cancerous white blood cells that disrupt the normal production of blood cells, but they remain in the marrow instead of entering the bloodstream, where they would be visible in a blood test. For a person with aleukemia, the white blood cell counts in the bloodstream can be normal or low. Aleukemia can occur in any of the four major types of leukemia, and is particularly common in [[hairy cell leukemia]].<ref name=ACS1/>