Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation
Haematology
Paediatric oncology and haematology is a specialist field within paediatrics and adolescent medicine that encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and blood disorders.
Haematology deals with diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. Blood contains different types of blood cells: red and white blood cells, as well as platelets.
- Anaemia: red blood cells (erythrocytes) are responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood and ensuring that cells are supplied with energy. With anaemia, a lack of red blood cells leads to paleness and weakness.
- Neutropenia: white blood cells (leukocytes) are immune cells that play an important role in defending the body against pathogens. A lack or malfunction (neutropenia) can lead to serious infections, failure to thrive and changes in the skin (immune deficiencies).
- Leukaemia and lymphoma: white blood cells can also undergo malignant changes in rare cases. These are referred to as leukaemia or lymphoma. There is some overlap here with the field of oncology.
- Thrombocytopenia, haemophilia, thrombophilia and thrombosis: blood platelets (thrombocytes), on the other hand, are needed for blood clotting. Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) and haemostasis disorders are associated with an increased tendency to bleed (haemophilia) or, in the case of hypercoagulability (thrombophilia), with clot formation (thrombosis). Haemostaseology deals with these conditions.
Causes
A deficiency of these blood components can be congenital or acquired and caused by a formation disorder or by increased breakdown.
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- Severe aplastic anaemia
- Anaemia (haemolytic, hyporegenerative – congenital/acquired)
- Sickle cell disease/thalassaemia
- Neutropenia (congenital/acquired)
- Thrombocytopenia (congenital/acquired)
- Haemostaseological disorders
- Clotting disorders
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The majority of these conditions can be diagnosed through blood tests. Bone marrow or lymph node tests may also be necessary in some cases.
The highly qualified specialists in our department diagnose and treat all of these conditions. Many of these treatments take place in clinical trials, which ensure the best possible medical care.
Children and adolescents are not ‘little adults’.
Children and adolescents suffer from different illnesses than adults and require specialised treatment and care appropriate to their age and condition in order to maximise their chances of recovery and minimise any treatment-related side effects and long-term consequences.
This requires close cooperation between a trained, interdisciplinary team of doctors and other professionals who are responsive to the specific needs of children and adolescents.
Multidisciplinary paediatric haematology-oncology team
Children and adolescents suffering from these very rare and complex diseases must be treated in specialised centres with an appropriate multidisciplinary paediatric haematology-oncology team.
Your paediatrician should be contacted, especially in the event of recurrent abnormal blood counts or persistent symptoms, in order to initiate further diagnostic and therapeutic measures.
