Why can acute myeloid leukaemia cause unexplained fever?

Acute myeloid leukaemia begins in the bone marrow and disrupts the production of normal blood cells. Abnormal myeloid cells may leave too few effective white blood cells to control an infection. Fever can be the first sign of infection, even when there is no obvious cough, wound, or urinary symptom.

The disease can also activate inflammatory signals that raise body temperature. Other possible features include fatigue, bruising, bleeding, breathlessness, or repeated infections, although not everyone has the same pattern. Fever does not identify its cause by itself; an examination and blood tests are needed.

Check your temperature, note when it started, and write down chills, pain, cough, diarrhoea, urinary symptoms, or skin changes. Follow the fever plan supplied by your haematology team and drink fluids if able. Avoid taking antibiotics left from an earlier illness or changing prescribed treatment without advice.

When calling, say that you have known or suspected AML if that applies. The team may arrange urgent blood tests, cultures, examination, and treatment based on the findings.

Report a new fever immediately according to your team’s instructions, especially with shaking chills, confusion, marked weakness, breathing difficulty, dizziness, or a rapidly worsening condition. Go to emergency care for collapse or severe breathing problems. Reduced infection defence can allow a serious illness to progress before local symptoms become clear.

Ask what temperature should prompt a call, which number to use day or night, and whether you should take a fever medicine before assessment. Ask how your blood counts affect infection risk and which symptoms should be reported alongside fever.