Juvenile Vs. Chronic

• According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, chronic myleomocytic leukemia -- also called CMML -- occurs primarily in people who are older than 60. This form of blood cancer develops in white blood cells initially, which then attack healthy cells and organs as it spreads throughout the body. Unlike MML, in CMML, stem cell transplants are only used in a small number of patients. With MML, stem cells may be used as a curative treatment option.
  
  

Enlarged Liver

• According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, one of the symptoms of myelomonocytic leukemia can include an enlarged liver. Signs of this symptom include tenderness in the center and upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Pressing against this portion of the body may result in pain and children may pull away from a parent trying to see if this part of the body is tender.
  
  

Developmental Delays

• The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society indicates that young children may not reach their expected developmental milestones if they have MML. Given that MML most often strikes very young children, these milestones can include being able to sit up independently, crawling, walking, beginning to speak, and development of fine and gross motor skills. In many instances, children with MML begin to have problems with receiving nourishment and eating. As a result, they begin to suffer from malnourishment and fail to thrive, which leads to developmental delays.
  
  

Decrease in Appetite

• Young children need a great deal of nourishment in order to meet their developmental milestones and grow into healthy children. However, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, children with MML develop problems eating and decreased appetite. Children may experience nausea and vomiting, making it difficult for them to gain the needed weight to accommodate their growing bodies. Children may appear fussy and irritable when parents attempt to feed them or encourage them to eat.
  
  

Bone and Joint Pain

• The Children's Hospital Boston reports that children may experience bone and joint pain as symptoms of myelomonocytic leukemia. This is because the bone marrow is accumulating abnormal cells and the bones and joints feel pressure from too many cells and cells that are malfunctioning. Although many children do not experience most symptoms until the disease is well under way, bone and joint pain may be one of the first complaints that parents notice. In extremely young children, irritability may be the primary way of knowing that the child is in pain.
  
  

Fatigue

• Although infants sleep a great deal, they should have periods when they are awake and engaged with their parents or caregivers. According to Children's Hospital Boston, infants and young children affected by MML exhibit unusual fatigue, exhaustion and sleep more than normal. They may be reluctant to engage in normal activities like going on outings or playing. They may appear annoyed or irritable when parents or caregivers attempt to encourage them to participate in normally enjoyed play activities.