Histiocytosis

Histiocytosis

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Most cases of histiocytosis occur in children from birth to age 15, with the incidence peaking between 5 to 10 years of age. In children, 80 percent of the cases affect the bones. For example, the skull often is affected, developing a "punched-out" appearance that can be detected in a bone X-ray.

Children over 5 years old often experience only bone involvement, though younger children may be affected in many parts of the body simultaneously. If only one organ is affected, less intense treatment is required.

Other rare histiocytic diseases that affect children include hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and familial lymphohistiocytosis, both which may be triggered by viral infections. Malignant histiocytosis is a rare form of leukemia in children.

Among children, the most common symptoms of histiocytosis are:

• Failure to gain height and weight
• Weight loss
• Irritability
• Fever
• Rash including on the scalp or diaper rash in infants
• Abnormal gums
• Discharge from the ear
• Bone pain, caused by swelling

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007