What is a common characteristic of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)?

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is primarily a disease that affects children and is characterized by the overproduction of immature lymphoid cells, which leads to elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts. A high WBC count is a common laboratory finding at the time of diagnosis in pediatric patients suffering from ALL. This is indicative of the body's attempt to produce more white blood cells in response to the leukemic process.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately represent the characteristics of ALL. This condition does occur more frequently in children rather than adults, reflecting its prevalence in the pediatric population. Additionally, while survival rates for ALL have improved significantly with advances in treatment, they are not universally low, particularly in children, where cure rates can exceed 80%. As for the symptoms, while they can be vague and nonspecific, the significant laboratory findings, like elevated WBC counts, are often what lead to further investigation and diagnosis of the disease. Thus, the association of high WBC counts specifically in children is a defining characteristic of ALL.