Pallor and Stroke-Like Symptoms in a Three-Year-Old Child

Abstract

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy and can include a vast array of symptoms at the time of diagnosis. This case describes a 3-year-old child who presented with worsening pallor, immobility and fatigue who was found to have papilledema and focal neurological findings on physical examination. An emergent diagnostic workup revealed severe anemia. The patients neurological deficits improved after administration of oxygen and gentle intravenous fluid resuscitation. He was ultimately diagnosed with B-cell ALL; a combination of leukocytosis/leukostasis in the microcirculation and severe anemia were thought to have contributed to this childs unique presentation.

Int J Clin Pediatr. 2021;10(4):75-77
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/ijcp451