Who is affected by Burkitt lymphoma?

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Who is affected by Burkitt lymphoma?

There are three types of Burkitt lymphoma. Each type affects people differently depending on where people live, their age and if they have certain underlying health conditions. That said, people assigned male at birth are more likely to develop Burkitt lymphoma than people assigned female at birth. Here is information on Burkitt lymphoma types:

  • Endemic: This is the most common type of Burkitt lymphoma. It typically affects children living in central Africa and is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus. This is the virus that causes mononucleosis. Children who have endemic Burkitt lymphoma usually develop tumors in their jaws or their facial bones.
  • Sporadic: This is the type of Burkitt lymphoma seen in the United States. It affects more children than adults. Burkitt lymphoma accounts for more than 40% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children. On average, children tend to develop this lymphoma type between ages 3 to 12.
  • Immunodeficiency-related: This type of Burkitt lymphoma affects people who have acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS). Rarely, it also may affect people whose immune systems are compromised or weakened by illness or medical treatment.

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