What are the key clinical features and symptoms that should raise suspicion for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in a primary care setting?

In a primary care setting, several key clinical features and symptoms should raise suspicion for leukaemia, which includes Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), prompting further investigation ¹,². The recommendations differ slightly for adults compared to children and young people ¹,².

• For adults, consider a very urgent full blood count (within 48 hours) if they present with any of the following:
• Pallor ¹,²
• Persistent fatigue ²
• Unexplained fever ¹,²
• Unexplained persistent or recurrent infection ¹,²
• Generalized lymphadenopathy ²
• Unexplained bruising ²,⁴
• Unexplained bleeding ²
• Unexplained petechiae ²
• Hepatosplenomegaly ²
• For children and young people, the following symptoms should prompt action:
• Refer for immediate specialist assessment if they have unexplained petechiae or hepatosplenomegaly ¹,².
• Offer a very urgent full blood count (within 48 hours) if they present with any of the following:
• Pallor ¹,²
• Persistent fatigue ¹,²
• Unexplained fever ¹,²
• Unexplained persistent infection ¹,²
• Generalized lymphadenopathy ¹,²
• Persistent or unexplained bone pain ²
• Unexplained bruising ¹,²,⁴
• Unexplained bleeding ²