Does Urinary Tract Infection,frequent Rise In Temperature And Severe Body Ache Indicate Positive Leukaemia?

Posted on Tue, 3 Dec 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 3 Dec 2013 Answered on

Thu, 26 Dec 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother is suffering from various ailments like Urinary Tract Infection (which was caused by E. Coli and is now said to be cured), frequent rise in temperature and severe body aches. Her Blast cell count is 25% and Plasma Fibrinogen count is 928.6 (Normal- 180-350). Doctors are suspecting Leukemia.... please advice.

Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Blast more than 20% is leukemia or blood cancer Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query on XXXXXXX The condition in which the blast count is more than 20 % is called acute leukemia or blood cancer in lay man language. The blasts are of two types- myeloid or lymphoid. The treatment is different for myeloid and lymphoid leukemia. The nature of the blasts whether myeloid or lymphoid is determined by flowcytometry. Chemotherapy is the main stay of treatment for leukemia. The treatment for leukemias is given by a hematologist. As you have mentioned that the urinary tract infection caused by E coli has been treated. Frequent rise in temperature and severe body aches can be due to leukemia. Recurrence of urinary tract infection can also cause rise in temperature and body aches. you can get urine microscopy to rule out urinary tract infection. If you have more queries. I will be glad to answer. Dr Shailja P Wahal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Shailja Puri (8 hours later)

Hi Doctor, Thanks for your response.She has very low platelet counts as low as 40000, sometimes decreasing to 30000 or further low. CRP is high.She had a platelet count 170000 on 8 November when she was admitted to hospital for E-Coli. When she was released from there after 1 week, suddenly platelets dropped to 30000. Hi Doctor, Is Leukemia curable? What is the success rate?

Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (14 hours later)

Brief Answer: Leukemia causes decreased in blood cells Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome again. Leukemia is characterized by accumulation of cancerous cells in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the store house of pre-cursor cells which form red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Accumulation of these cancerous cells deplete the normal cell population. This is responsible for decrease in platelets and other blood cells. CRP is C-reactive protein is a chemical substance which increases in inflammatory conditions. Very effective chemotherapeutic agents being used for the treatment of leukemias. However, treatment and prognosis depends on the type of leukemia. If you have more queries, I will be glad to answer. Dr Shailja P Wahal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D