Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Practice Exam

Fanconi's anemia is a genetic disorder that primarily affects the bone marrow and results in a variety of clinical symptoms due to impaired blood cell production. Clinically, the condition can present at any age, but most commonly symptoms begin to appear between 2 and 15 years of age. This is a critical timeframe for diagnosis, as children in this age range may start showing signs of anemia, such as fatigue, bruising, or bleeding due to thrombocytopenia.

Importantly, while it is possible for symptoms to manifest at birth or shortly thereafter, the clarity and diagnostic challenges often lead to recognition occurring within the earlier childhood years specified. The broad age range acknowledges that while some children may exhibit early symptoms, it is common for relatives of affected individuals to notice the clinical presentation during routine assessments between these developmental years.

Thus, the comprehensive definition provided by the correct choice resonates with the typical clinical patterns observed in patients with Fanconi's anemia, capturing both early and later manifestations of the disease and reflecting the medical understanding of its clinical course.