[Early symptoms of childhood malignant diseases]

Childhood malignant diseases are rare in pediatric pathology. Early symptoms are not specific, fatigue, pallor, compression signs and bone marrow failure are often mentioned.

To summarize the most frequent early symptoms of childhood malignancies in order to help the physicians in the early recognition.

In our retrospective study, we processed a period of 5 years between 2012-2016, with an accent on the onset manifestations of malignancies.

In this period 34 cases were admitted with a diagnosis of malignant disease to our department. The most important symptoms were fever, fatigue, weight loss, pain, adenopathy, infections, and signs of anemia or thrombocytopenia.

Childhood acute leukemia mostly occurs with adenopathy, fever, bone pain and signs of anemia. Solid tumors in their early stages may present with fatigue, pain and compression symptoms. The responsibility of the first physician is major in recognizing the most important early signs. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(21): 829-834.