Unsteady walking turned out to be caused by a brain stem tumor

In early autumn last year, a very special child came to the pediatric department of the hospital. The 10-year-old boy seemed to be unable to walk. According to the child's parents, the child has been feeling weak all over in the past half month, listless in class, and his academic performance has dropped sharply. A few days ago, he felt blurred vision during class and could not even see the words on the blackboard clearly. He vomited when he got up in the morning, had difficulty lifting his feet when he got home from school, and gradually walked unsteadily. Sometimes he complained of a headache, but had no fever.

Pediatrician Director Chen frowned upon hearing this. He thought that headaches, vomiting, and unsteady gait, which could not be properly explained, were likely caused by a brain tumor. He then quickly asked the parents to take the child to do a CT scan and MRI of the head, and it was finally determined to be a brain stem tumor.

After arranging for the child to receive treatment, Director Chen then told the doctors in the department about the case and reminded them that the peak age for childhood brain tumors is between 5 and 10 years old. The onset is rapid and the progression is fast. Most children have headaches and vomiting symptoms, as well as progressive general fatigue, unsteady walking, and even slurred speech or inability to speak. Because the early symptoms are atypical, they are easily misdiagnosed as viral encephalitis, tuberculous meningitis, epilepsy, and other diseases in clinical practice. When children have unexplained headaches, vomiting, and unsteady gait, brain tumors should be considered.