Higher Leukemia risk in kids with Down syndrome

Down syndrome is among the most common genetic conditions in the U.S. and Canada, with approximately one in every 700 babies born in the U.S. and one in 750 born in Canada are diagnosed with this serious condition. A seminal study by UC Davis Health and UC San Francisco researchers probed deeper into this area and found higher than expected associations between Down syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia. This is the first large-scale study to carry out precise risk estimation, especially for rare leukemia types such as AML-7.

The study also found that males and Hispanic children were more likely to be diagnosed with Down syndrome and more likely to develop leukemia than their counterparts. The study researchers have urged parents of kids with Down syndrome to consult a paediatrician if they detect any of the common symptoms of leukemia including fatigue or pale skin, infections and fever, easy bleeding or bruising, shortness of breath and coughing as childhood leukemia is treatable if detected early.???

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