Page 6 - Talking About The Facts. Stroke In Children

CHILDHOOD STROKE KEY POINTS

• Childhood strokes may be missed
because there is a lack of awareness
that children can indeed have a
stroke. However, the risk of stroke
from birth through age 19 is nearly
2
5 per 100,000 children per year.

• Many children with stroke symptoms
are misdiagnosed with the more
common conditions that stroke can
CHILDHOOD STROKE SYMPTOMS
mimic such as migraines, epilepsy or
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viral illnesses.
Children who have a stroke tend to have one or more of these symptoms
that come on suddenly:

• In older children, the signs and • Sudden weakness, paralysis or numbness in the face, arm or leg, most
symptoms of stroke are very similar often on one side of the body
to those in adults and depend upon • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding language
the area of brain involved. • Sudden changes in vision, such as decreased vision or double vision
• Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of ability to stand or walk
• Sudden, severe headache with or without vomiting and sleepiness
• It is very important that families take • Seizures in a child who has not had seizures before (usually on one
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immediate action and call 911 if they side of the body)
see sudden signs of stroke or sudden
changes in their child’s health status.
CHILDHOOD STROKE RISK FACTORS

• To date, the use of tPA (a clot In many cases of childhood stroke, a cause is not found. However, roughly
half of the children presenting with a stroke have a previously identified
busting treatment) is not currently
1
risk factor.
FDA approved for children in the
1
US.
• Congenital heart disease
• Abnormal blood vessels in the brain, such as moyamoya, vasculitis
4
arteriovenous malformation
• Early recognition and treatment 4
• Infections such a chickenpox or meningitis
during the first hours and days after
• Head injury or trauma
a stroke is highly critical in long-term
• Arterial Dissection
functional outcomes and minimizing
• Sickle cell disease or other blood conditions that cause abnormal
recurrence risk. 4
clotting (thrombosis) or bleeding
• Autoimmune Disorders

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