Research ward at children's hospital in Shanghai treats over 200 patients with rare diseases

The research ward at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai has admitted more than 200 patients with difficult-to-diagnose rare diseases from home and abroad since its opening in July 2024, the hospital said on Thursday.

Pediatric rare and difficult-to-diagnose diseases include a wide range of conditions. About 72 percent of rare diseases are genetic, often affecting multiple organ systems and accounting for 35 percent of infant mortality causes. Diagnosing rare diseases in children is a worldwide challenge. On average, it takes between four to eights years from the first appearance of symptoms to a final diagnosis, according to experts.

The hospital said the research ward, covering an area of 3,000 square meters with 60 beds, was established to respond to such challenges.

One of the latest patients was a 2-month-old baby from South Africa suspected of suffering from Krabbe disease. The infant was taken to the Shanghai hospital for medical consultation and received a personalized treatment plan, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, at the ward earlier this month.