The most common type of leukaemia seen in children is?

AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Explanation

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is the most prevalent malignancy in children, accounting for approximately 75% of all leukaemia cases in this age group.
The incidence of ALL shows a distinct peak in children aged 2 to 5 years.
It is a cancer of the lymphoid cell line, where the bone marrow produces an excess of immature lymphocytes (lymphoblasts), crowding out normal blood cells.
In contrast, in adults, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is more common than ALL.

Option B: Chronic Lymphoid Leukaemia (CLL) is a disease primarily of older adults (typically over age 60) and is exceptionally rare in children.
Option C: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is the second most common type of leukaemia in children, but it is significantly less common than ALL, accounting for only about 15-20% of cases.
Option D: Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is rare in children and adolescents. Its incidence increases with age, with a median age at diagnosis of around 65 years.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Epidemiology of childhood leukemia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be vigilant in recognizing the subtle, often non-specific signs of leukaemia in children, such as persistent low-grade fever, pallor, fatigue, unexplained bruising (petechiae/purpura), and bone or joint pain, to facilitate early diagnosis.
A core nursing role involves managing the side effects of chemotherapy, such as neutropenia (risk of infection), anaemia (requiring transfusions), and mucositis, which are critical for patient safety and comfort.
What if? If the question asked for the most common malignancy in the first year of life (infancy), while ALL is still common, AML has a relatively higher incidence in infants compared to older children.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'most common type', 'leukaemia', and 'children'. This is a factual recall question about epidemiology.
Mentally categorize the four main types of leukaemia: Acute vs. Chronic and Lymphoblastic vs. Myeloid.
Recall or deduce the general principle that acute leukaemias are far more common in children than chronic leukaemias.
Between the two acute types, recall that Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is significantly more prevalent in the pediatric population than Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
Eliminate the chronic options (CLL, CML) as they are primarily diseases of adulthood and old age.
Select ALL as the most fitting answer based on its high incidence in children.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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