Association of Parental, Child, and Environmental Factors with the Occurrence of Childhood Leukemia in Upper Egypt

Abstract

Background: Leukemia is the most common malignant tumor in children, responsible for nearly one-third of all childhood cancers. However, the exact risk factors of childhood leukemia are unknown. Objective(s): The aim of this study was to identify risk factors of leukemia among Upper Egyptian children. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in 2019. Cases included 170 children aged ≤18 years with a confirmed leukemia diagnosis at the South Egypt Cancer Institute. The controls included 170 children matched for age and sex, free from hematological problems, and diagnosed with a mild illness in a pediatric outpatient clinic. Data were collected from children's parents using an interview