CAUSES OF REFUSAL TO WALK IN CHILDHOOD

Refusal to walk is a common complaint in childhood. Its etiology was investigated by reviewing the charts of children who were admitted to the hospital with this problem in a one-year period. Bacterial infections produced 22 of the 55 episodes and were more likely to be associated with fever than were noninfectious disorders. Elevation in sedimentation rate and white blood cell counts were not helpful in differentiating infections from noninfectious disorders. Refusal to walk usually is associated with a serious underlying disease and this symptom should prompt a diligent search for its cause.