Stroke in Children – Causes, effects and symptoms

A stroke is a condition where the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen because of a blockage (called a blood clot) in the blood vessel, When the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs, permanent damage can occur.  This is called an ischemic stroke.

Strokes can cause paralysis, speech defects, and vision problems. Ischemic strokes can also impair the person’s ability to be cognitive as well as affect one’s moods and emotions.

CAUSES OF STROKE IN CHILDREN

Although it sounds improbable, children can also suffer a stroke. But unlike adult strokes that are caused by factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, alcohol and obesity, children’s strokes, on the other hand, are often caused by birth defects, infections (e.g. meningitis, encephalitis), trauma, and blood disorders such as sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that’s associated with ischemic stroke. In sickle cell disease, the blood cell can’t carry oxygen to the brain, and blood vessels leading to the brain may have narrowed or closed.

EFFECTS OF STROKE IN CHILDREN

Depending on what part of the brain the stroke impacts, the child can also have typical stroke disabilities found in adults such as paralysis (hemiplegia or disphagia), visual problems, cognitive deficits (such as apraxia or agnosia), language deficits (dysarthria and aphasia) and emotional deficits (such as depression). But unlike adults, there are stroke related disabilities that are unique to children such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and epilepsy.

Other complications brought about by the stroke are fever, loss of emotional control, memory problems, judgment and problem solving skills, and behavioral changes. And because of prolonged bed rest, physical and nutritional factors may also be affected.

RECOVERY

The upside of being a child is that a child has better healing abilities than an adult. The brain of a child is still developing and may have a greater chance of stroke recovery. Physical and speech therapy helps greatly in recovering the child’s use of his/her arms and legs and recover proper speech patterns after a stroke.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHILDHOOD STROKE

Be aware of the following signs and symptoms that may be a sign of a stroke in the child. It is best to immediately call or bring the child to the nearest doctor or hospital for immediate treatment

• Severe headache- this is often the first complaint
• Nausea and/or vomiting/ warm, flushed, clammy skin
• Slow, full pulse – may have distended neck veins
• Speech difficulties- absent, slurred or inappropriate speech
• Eye movement problems – partial or complete blindness, blurred vision, unequal pupils
• Numbness – paralysis, weakness, or loss of coordination of limbs, usually on one side of the body; loss of balance
• Facial droop or salivary drool
• Urinary incontinence
• Seizures
• Brief loss of consciousness; unconscious ‘snoring’ respirations
• May show signs of rapid recovery (TIA)

The incidence of stroke in children is relatively low; about six cases in every 100,000 children per year and at least one-third of those cases are in newborns. They are a bit more common in children under the age of two.

Source:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

American Stroke Association

St. John’s Hospital

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