Childhood leukemia rates peak after flu epidemics

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - From 1974 to 2000, peaks in the rate of the acute lymphoblastic type of leukemia (ALL) among children in the UK seem to have occurred immediately after influenza epidemics, new research shows -- suggesting a possible causal link.

"These results are consistent with hypotheses that some childhood leukemia may be triggered by infection occurring close to the time of diagnosis of leukemia," Mary E. Kroll and colleagues at the University of Oxford comment in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The findings are based on an analysis of data from the National Registry of Childhood Tumours, which covers the entire childhood population of the UK.

During the 27-year period covered by the study, the rate of childhood ALL increased by 0.7 percent annually, on average. However, the rate spiked upward slightly in 1976 and 1990, just after influenza epidemics, the report indicates.

"Our results suggest that childhood ALL differs in etiology (cause) from other childhood leukemias and that some contributing factor for childhood ALL has changed over time," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, March 15, 2006.