For unexpected bleeding from any part of the body, in a child/adult, like oozing of blood from the gums, haemorrhagic spots/areas on the skin, or excessive bleeding from the nose, say, after a blow, or profuse bleeding following tooth extraction or minor injury, the possibility of early acute leukaemia must be considered for precise diagnosis. It is important to point out that leukaemias should be given due consideration and all efforts must be made to treat and control the condition.
Chronic leukaemia As compared to acute leukaemia, chronic leukaemia usually manifests itself at a later age, say at the age of 30-50 years, and has a different presentation from acute leukaemia. The disease remains hidden and the patient reports after months/years of the onset of the ailment, and in some cases it may be diagnosed accidentally during a routine medical check-up.
However, the disease can be diagnosed in infancy, and besides a clinical examination/ suspicion by the physician who may happen to examine the case, we need the expertise of a clinical pathologist/laboratory technician competent to spot out such cases from the routine tests like total leucocyte count (TLC), differential leucocyte count (OLC) and, above all, from the examination of the peripheral blood film (PBF), especially for immature cells, etc.
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