Medicine:Pediatric stroke
Pediatric stroke is a stroke that occurs in children or adolescents. Stroke affects an estimated 2.5 to 13 per 100,000 children annually.[1]
The signs and symptoms of stroke in children, infants, and newborns are different from those in adults. The causes and risk factors of stroke in children are also different from those in adults.[2] Children have hemorrhagic strokes at the same rate in which they have ischemic strokes, while adults are more likely to have ischemic strokes. Pediatric stroke is more prevalent in males, with over 60% of pediatric strokes occurring in boys.[3]
Types of Strokes
Ischemic
In an ischemic stroke, blood supply to part of the brain is decreased, leading to dysfunction of the brain tissue in that area. There are four reasons why this might happen:
- Thrombosis (obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot forming locally)
- Embolism (obstruction due to an embolus from elsewhere in the body, see below),
- Systemic hypoperfusion (general decrease in blood supply, e.g., in shock)[4]
- Venous thrombosis.[5]
Stroke without an obvious explanation is termed "cryptogenic" (of unknown origin); this constitutes 30-40% of all ischemic strokes.[6]
Hemorrhagic
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms for pediatric stroke can vary depending on the child’s age. Infants and younger children often exhibit more subtle symptoms which can often lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment.[2]
General Symptoms
Some general symptoms of pediatric stroke are common among different age groups, including:
- Hemiparesis, or a weakness on one side of the body
- Sudden or worsening headaches
- Sudden difficulty speaking, slurring of words or trouble understanding speech
- Sudden loss of vision or abnormal eye movements
- Sudden loss of balance or trouble walking
Age Specific Symptoms
Newborns
Newborns may experience symptoms such as:[2]
- Epileptic Seizures
- Disturbance of consciousness
- Generalized Motor Disorders
- Apnea Attacks
Infants
Infants may experience symptoms such as:[2]
- Keeping one hand in a fist position
- Preferred use of one hand
- Focal Epileptic Seizures
- Impaired Consciousness
Children Older than Three Years
In children three years and older, symptoms may include:[2]
- Sensory disturbances
- Psychomotor Agitation
Prognosis
The prognosis for pediatric stroke survivors varies among individuals. Children with pediatric or perinatal stroke may not have long term issues, but other individuals may experience the following outcomes:[2]
- Cerebral Palsy (often Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy/Hemiplegia)
- Epilepsy
- Vision Loss
- Hearing Loss
- Language Disorders
- Behavioral Disorders
Treatment of Pediatric Stroke
- If symptoms of pediatric stroke seizure are seen, the infant should be taken to the hospital immediately for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
- Medications and other treatments may be recommended to help treat the symptoms (e.g. to control seizures) or correct the cause of the stroke, such as rehydration, antibiotics for meningitis, and medication or surgery to correct heart abnormalities.
References
- ↑ Hollist, Mary; Au, Katherine; Morgan, Larry; Shetty, Padmashri A; Rane, Riddhi; Hollist, Abraham; Amaniampong, Angela; Kirmani, Batool F (2021). "Pediatric Stroke: Overview and Recent Updates" (in en). Aging and Disease 12 (4): 1043–1055. doi:10.14336/AD.2021.0219. ISSN 2152-5250. PMID 34221548.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Wessel, Niels; Sprincean, Mariana; Sidorenko, Ludmila; Revenco, Ninel; Hadjiu, Svetlana (April 2024). "Pediatric Ischemic Stroke: Clinical and Paraclinical Manifestations—Algorithms for Diagnosis and Treatment" (in en). Algorithms 17 (4): 171. doi:10.3390/a17040171. ISSN 1999-4893.
- ↑ Golomb, Meredith R.; Fullerton, Heather J.; Nowak-Gottl, Ulrike; deVeber, Gabrielle (January 2009). "Male Predominance in Childhood Ischemic Stroke: Findings From the International Pediatric Stroke Study" (in en). Stroke 40 (1): 52–57. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.521203. ISSN 0039-2499. PMID 18787197. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.521203.
- ↑ "Mechanisms and management of stroke in the elderly". CMAJ 145 (5): 433–43. September 1991. PMID 1878825.
- ↑ Stam J (April 2005). "Thrombosis of the cerebral veins and sinuses". The New England Journal of Medicine 352 (17): 1791–8. doi:10.1056/NEJMra042354. PMID 15858188. https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/3830901/45867_208116y.pdf.
- ↑ "Cryptogenic stroke: time to determine aetiology". Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 6 (4): 549–54. April 2008. doi:10.1111/j.1538-7836.2008.02903.x. PMID 18208534.
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