Which acute leukemia is most commonly seen in children?

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of acute leukemia seen in children. It primarily affects lymphoid cells, which are crucial components of the immune system. The peak incidence of ALL occurs between the ages of 2 and 5, making it significantly more prevalent in pediatric populations compared to adults. The disease is characterized by the overproduction of immature lymphoblasts that can impair normal hematopoiesis, leading to a range of associated symptoms, including fatigue, infections, and bleeding due to a lack of healthy blood cells.

In contrast, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) does occur in children but is less common, and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is rare in children and primarily affects adults. Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) is also less common and falls under a category that does not dominate the pediatric leukemia statistics when compared to ALL. Thus, ALL stands out due to its high incidence and significant impact on children, establishing it as the predominant form of acute leukemia in this age group.