What is a significant risk for children with leukemia receiving chemotherapy?

Children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy are at significant risk for infection due to several factors associated with the treatment. Chemotherapy is designed to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells; however, it also affects other rapidly dividing cells, including those in the bone marrow that produce blood cells. This can lead to bone marrow suppression, resulting in a decrease in white blood cells, specifically neutrophils, which are crucial for fighting infections.

As the white blood cell count drops, particularly the neutrophil count, a condition known as neutropenia occurs, leading to an increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Even minor infections in patients with neutropenia can become serious and require prompt medical attention, making infection a significant concern for these children undergoing treatment.

While anemia and thrombocytopenia can also occur in children receiving chemotherapy, they are not as immediate a concern for overall health and safety as the risk of infection. Dehydration may occur due to side effects like nausea or vomiting, but it is not a direct result of the blood cell counts being affected by chemotherapy in the same way that infection risk is heightened. Thus, the primary concern for children with leukemia on chemotherapy is their increased vulnerability to infections due to compromised immunity.