Leukaemia in childhood

Abstract

Leukaemia means white blood. It is a disease of the white blood cells and was first described by Virchow in 1845.¹ Leukaemia can present as an acute disease, occurring more often in the younger age groups, or as a chronic disease, usually in the older age group. Acute leukaemia is rare, but about 1 in 2 000 people will develop the disease.² The two acute forms in children are acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The chronic form is chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).^2,3