Pediatric hematology is a branch of science that examines blood and bone marrow diseases. Cancer patients are also treated in the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. In the case of diseases such as blood or marrow cancer in children, pediatric hematology, pediatric oncology, radiation oncology, pediatric surgery, nuclear medicine, and radiology departments work together.

 

Pediatric Hematology Treatment Methods:

A series of blood tests and bone marrow biopsies are required to diagnose the disease and determine its type. Treatment methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and stem cell transplantation treat the condition.

 

The Main Diseases That The Pediatric Hematology Department Deals With:

Anemia Diseases:

Blood loss, excessive red blood cell destruction, and inadequate red blood cell production are among the leading causes of anemia. Anemia can also be caused by folic acid, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiency, and sometimes a decrease in the hormones required for red blood cell production. Anemia can occur in people with cancer and chronic illnesses. The main symptoms of anemia are fatigue, pallor, and weakness. Loss of appetite, bruising when crying, difficulty swallowing, and stunted growth are common symptoms among children. In addition to anemia, iron deficiency in children can also affect intelligence and perception ability. In addition to the necessary tests, family and child history are also very important in diagnosing anemia. Answers to questions such as consanguineous marriage, whether there is anemia in the family, nutrition, chronic diarrhea, and blood exchange are among the questions asked to diagnose anemia.

 

Leukemia Diseases:

It is a disease that occurs when malignant blood cells increase uncontrollably in the bone marrow. Since malignant blood cells suppress healthy blood cells and prevent blood functions from working correctly, they can pose a life-threatening risk to the whole body. Leukemia, also called blood, or bone marrow cancer ranks first among cancers in children. Although leukemia is seen at any age, it increases between 2 and 5. In children, leukemia symptoms include anemia, weakness, loss of appetite, bone pain in the legs, bleeding from the nose and gums, bleeding under the skin, and fever.

Hemophilia:

Hemophilia, a genetically inherited blood disorder, is a blood clotting problem. This disease also means a kind of bleeding disorder. In severe cases, it can be diagnosed immediately after birth. Symptoms that may vary according to the level of the disease include bleeding inside or outside the body, as well as symptoms such as unexplained nosebleeds, bleeding that does not stop after circumcision, blood in urine or feces, bleeding that does not stop after tooth extraction, bleeding that occurs without any impact to the body, swelling in the joints, pain, difficulty in moving and detection of bleeding in the intra-articular tissues. Hemophilia is an inherited disease. Children who inherit this condition from their mother and father are born with hemophilia. The findings in each patient may be different.

-Diseases related to blood cells (erythrocytes, platelets, and leukocytes); leukocytosis, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, immune thrombocytopenia, and thrombocytosis.

-Bleeding diseases; hemophilia, von Willebrand disease,

 

Mediterranean Anemia (Thalassemia)

Mediterranean anemia is a blood disease that particularly threatens Mediterranean countries. Mediterranean anemia, a preventable disease, is only transmitted from the mother and father to the child. If even one of the family members is a carrier, the rate of the child getting the same disease is half and half. Both airlines will likely marry in countries with a high number of runners. Before this disease, which is also seen predominantly in children born from consanguineous marriages, both sides should have the necessary blood tests and decide accordingly. Children with moderate and severe Mediterranean anemia have growth retardation. In addition, bones break more quickly, and the spleen, heart, and liver enlarge. Symptoms such as a pale appearance, loss of appetite, dark urine, and jaundice can also be seen.