On the afternoon of January 21, 2025, a girl from Bangladesh, accompanied by her father, was admitted to the outpatient room of Professor Liu Xiaohong, a specialist in pediatric neurology from Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital (FAH) of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU). After inquiring about the disease status and imaging data, Professor Liu Xiaohong made an initial diagnosis of demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and suggested further hospitalization to confirm the diagnosis.
Resident physician Zhang Xinmin actively communicated with the patient and her father, and cooperated with standardized training physician Li Haixia to spend nearly 2 h retrieving the medical history in the past 5 months. Subsequently, physician Wang Lin conducted comprehensive examination of the nervous system for this child.
The 12-year-old girl, surnamed Vanessa, was suspectedly diagnosed with an anti-myelinated oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG antibody-related disease 5 months ago. She received high-dose shock therapy and her condition recurred after the use of hormone was terminated. To validate the diagnosis, they were admitted to FAH.
Deputy chief physician Yang Yonghua and attending physician Cao Xiaoqin understood her medical history, considered the results of imaging examination in local hospitals and made a preliminary diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, a rare disease in children. Department of Pediatrics actively coordinated with Department of Radiology and Medical Department to carry out necessary examinations.
Due to the time limit of visas, the girl and her father had to return to Bangladesh on the third day of hospitalization. Physicians urgently coordinated Clinical Laboratory to accelerate the examination reports. Director Yang Jian from Department of Radiology personally checked the imaging report, participated in consultation and discussion, and finally confirmed the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Corrective treatment is of significance for this disease, which can significantly reduce the risk of recurrence and new lesions. Fingolimod and teriflunomide are recommended for pediatric multiple sclerosis, which should be submitted for special application. After physicians in the expert group informed the father of the patient about treatment regimen, they decided to receive subsequent treatment in Bangladesh.
This cross-border journey of medical treatment makes mutual trust between physicians and patients overcome cultural and language gaps, which fully showcases diagnosis and treatment levels of rare pediatric neurological diseases and humanistic care of medical staff from Department of Pediatrics of FAH.
