Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in a person’s lymphatic system, a network of vessels and organs that help transport a clear and vital liquid known as lymph throughout an individual’s body. Lymph is responsible for collecting excessive amounts of fluids from one’s body tissues and returning them to the bloodstream to maintain circulation. While children developing lymphoma is generally rare, one must be wary of some early warning signs.

Night sweats
Children will show first signs of lymphoma in the form of night sweats. This happens because the body’s temperature is raised by the lymphoma cells. The lymphoma cells produce various chemicals that dramatically raise a person’s body temperature. To offset that, sweating is a common reaction during the night to cool the various systems down. While the cooling happens successfully, children will likely leave their sheets, clothes, and blankets soaking wet.

Swollen lymph nodes
Parents of children with early-stage lymphoma will notice a lump or multiple lumps that will not go away even after a month or two. Medical professionals label these lumps as swollen lymph nodes. Often, these lumps emerge in a child’s skin if they have some infection. However, they go away after their health is restored. In contrast to regular lymph node swellings, the ones brought about by lymphoma are not painful and, therefore, remain unaffected on a child’s body even after a long period. These swellings are seen in necks, underarms, or the groin area.

Wheezing
A good percentage of children who develop lymphoma are susceptible to wheezing in the chest region. The enlarged lymph nodes in the chest cause very tangible breathing difficulties. Also, a child diagnosed with chest-based lymphoma may develop coughs that do not disappear quickly. In multiple cases, the lymphoma brings added pressure on the blood vessels in the chest. This results in a child having a reddened, swollen face and veins that protrude outwardly.

Fatigue
Like other cancers, lymphoma also disrupts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to other parts of the body, like the lungs and the brain. This disruption of oxygen flow results in a child becoming tired after doing simple tasks like climbing stairs or skipping a few times. Therefore, fatigue is one of the most apparent early indicators of a child developing lymphoma or other kinds of cancers.