Children's medicine of the North-West

Clinical case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia under the mask of mononucleosis

PRACTICAL NOTES

Keywords:
acute lymphoblastic leukemia mononucleosis-like syndrome infectious mononucleosis children clinical case diagnostics острый лимфобластный лейкоз мононуклеозоподобный синдром инфекционный мононуклеоз дети клинический случай диагностика

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common oncopathology among children and adolescents, most often occurring before the age of 18. The peak incidence occurs in preschool age from 2 to 5 years, according to statistics, it is more common in boys. On its share accounts for 75–80% of all tumor processes of the hematopoietic system in children (3–4 cases per 100 thousand children). The causes of the development of malignant disease are still not fully known, in the absence of timely diagnosis and therapy, it inevitably leads to an unfavorable outcome. Clinical the picture is nonspecific and is determined by the degree of dysfunction of the bone marrow (anemia, hemorrhagic syndrome, lymphadenopathy, damage to the liver, spleen, mediastinum, central nervous system, skin, testicles, etc.). In the organs of hematopoiesis, the process of maturation of lymphocytes that protect the body from infectious agents is disrupted, the number of immature white blood cells (blasts) sharply increases, which replace normal blood cells and cause the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia symptoms. The deficiency of full-fledged leukocytes leads to a decrease in immunity and the development of foci of infection. Patients can complain of weakness, pallor, fever, malaise, sore throat, pain in the bones and/or joints, bleeding of the mucous membranes, enlarged lymph nodes, etc. All the observed symptoms are not specific to acute lymphoblastic leukemia and can be associated with other diseases, which often complicates the correct and timely diagnosis. We present a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient aged 8 years and 5 months, hospitalized with a diagnosis of “Infectious mononucleosis”. A special feature of this case was the atypical debut of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a child.

Author Biographies

Anna N. Nazarova, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Assistant, Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named after Professor M.G. Danilevich

Oksana V. Bulina, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor of the Faculty of Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Education

Irina Yu. Sergeeva, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

infectious disease doctor of Infectious Diseases Department No. 1

Anna V. Fedorova, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Assistant, Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named after Professor M.G. Danilevich

Natalya V. Pavlova, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Infectious Diseases Department No. 1; Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named after Professor M.G. Danilevich

Elena B. Pavlova, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor of the Department of Pharmacology with a course of clinical pharmacology, pharmacoeconomics

Tatyana A. Kaplina, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named after Professor M.G. Danilevich

Tatyana M. Chernova, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named after Professor M.G. Danilevich

Gleb V. Kondratiev, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Assistant, Department of Oncology, Pediatric Oncology and Radiation Therapy

Oksana V. Romanova, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Clinical Resident, Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named after Professor M.G. Danilevich

Vladimir N. Timchenko, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named afterProfessor M.G. Danilevich

Dmitry O. Ivanov, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Neonatology with Courses in Neurology and Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Faculty of Postgraduateand Additional Professional Education, Rector, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Chief Neonatologist of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Larisa G. Starkovskaya, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Clinical Resident, Department of Infectious Diseases in Children named after Professor M.G. Danilevich

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How to Cite
Clinical case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia under the mask of mononucleosis: PRACTICAL NOTES. (2026). Children’s Medicine of the North-West, 14(2), 233-241. https://doi.org/10.56871/
Issue
Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)
Section
Original papers
Published
2026-07-30

How to Cite

Clinical case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia under the mask of mononucleosis: PRACTICAL NOTES. (2026). Children’s Medicine of the North-West, 14(2), 233-241. https://doi.org/10.56871/