Risk Factors
A risk factor is a behavior, characteristic, or condition that raises the possibility of developing a disease. Here are some factors known to increase the risk of a child developing leukemia:
Inherited conditions
Certain inherited conditions like Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and Bloom syndrome may increase a child's risk of developing leukemia.
Family History
Having a brother or sister who has had leukemia may slightly increase a child’s risk for developing leukemia. Having an identical twin with leukemia increases this risk further. A child with an identical twin that develops ALL before the age of 6 has an increased risk of developing leukemia. If an identical twin develops leukemia within the first few months of life, the another twin will almost always develop the same type of leukemia. However, children whose mother or father develops leukemia as an adult are not at an increased risk for the disease.
Immune system suppression
Children with an autoimmune disease that suppresses the immune system or receiving treatment to suppress the immune system for an organ transplant or other conditions may be at an increased risk for developing leukemia.
Exposure
Exposure to high levels of radiation (such as from a nuclear accident) or certain industrial chemicals (such as benzene) may increase a child's risk for developing leukemia. Treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs for other types of cancer may increase a child's risk for developing leukemia later in life.
