Can Children Suffer From Strokes?

 Childhood is meant to be a period of joy, innocence, and happy memories — both for the child and their families. It is, therefore, always heartbreaking when serious pediatric conditions arise, endangering the health of a child and jeopardizing their future.

Although strokes are largely considered to be an adult affliction, babies and older children can also suffer them. Stroke is a type of blood vessel disorder where blood flow to the brain is prevented, causing rapid and largely irreversible deterioration of brain cells.

Childhood or Pediatric Stroke is a rare disorder that affects one out of every 4,000 newborns and an additional 2,000 older children each year. 

Studies show Pediatric Stroke is one of the top ten causes of death in children.  In survivors, it can result in cerebral palsy, cognitive issues, communication difficulty, weakness, paralysis, and psychological disorders.

According to the top rehabilitation center in Bangalore, patients who have suffered strokes find that problems with cognitive development or thinking capacity may be the greatest hurdle to overcome.

Types of Pediatric Strokes

Pediatric Strokes can be caused by several factors, ranging from congenital diseases, trauma, and infections affecting both the mother and child. The main types of Pediatric Strokes include:

●        Perinatal (newborn) Stroke: can affect babies in the womb up until the end of the neonatal stage. It is caused by placental debris breaking off and lodging in the child’s brain. The main risk factor is the presence of a blood-clotting disorder affecting the baby or mother

●        Hemorrhagic Stroke: occurs when a blood vessel in or near the brain ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain

●        Ischemic Stroke: occurs when the blood flow to the brain is diminished, usually because of a clot in one of the blood vessels in the brain. The two types of ischemic stroke that occur in children are:

-          Sinovenous Thrombosis Stroke: occurs when there is a clot in one of the veins in the brain

-          Arterial Ischemic Stroke: occurs when there is a clot in an artery in the brain

●        Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): this is a short-lived condition that occurs due to a brief interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain. Symptoms resolve on their own, but about 10 percent of children who experience TIA end up having a stroke

What causes Pediatric Strokes?

Most Pediatric Strokes are Ischemic or Hemorrhagic and have multiple risk factors.

The common factors leading to Ischemic Strokes are:

 

●        Heart disorders, causing up to 25% of ischemic strokes in children. They can occur due to either congenital or acquired heart disease

●        Arterial dissection, a tear in the lining of the artery often caused by neck trauma

●        Genetic disorders like moyamoya (a rare disease that affects arteries in the brain) and sickle cell disease

●        Infections, such as meningitis or chickenpox

●        Problems faced by the mother during pregnancy, including preeclampsia (high blood pressure), premature rupture of the membranes, diabetes, infections, drug abuse, and placental problems

Common factors of Hemorrhagic Strokes are:

 

●        Mechanical injuries that may cause blood vessels to burst, resulting in internal bleeding

●        Arteriovenous malformation, a condition in which the blood vessels in the brain don’t connect properly

●        Aneurysm or weakness in an artery wall

●        Diseases that affect blood clotting such as hemophilia

Symptoms of Pediatric Strokes

One of the gravest questions a parent can ask is, “How do I know my child is having a stroke?” Pediatric Strokes typically begin suddenly. Strokes in newborns are common and often go unnoticed and undiagnosed until months or years later.

Strokes in infants and children can have a range of symptoms, including:

●        Seizures

●        Trouble breathing, eating, or swallowing

●        Preference for use of one hand over the other very early in life (should typically happen well after 18 months of age)

●        Developmental and language delays or changes

●        Headaches and nausea

●        Sudden paralysis or weakness on one side of the body

●        Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision

●        Tightness or restricted movement in the arms and legs

●        Memory loss

●        Sudden mood or behavioral changes

Treatment and Aftercare

If a child has any of the symptoms of a Pediatric Stroke, emergency medical care needs to be sought. The screening tests include:

●     Blood tests

●     MRIs

●     MRAs

●     CAT scans

●     Cranial ultrasound

●     Spinal tap

The treatment completely depends on the type, age, and severity of the stroke.

A holistic treatment plan for Pediatric Strokes and related complications has been put together by a rehabilitation center in Bangalore. This includes prophylactic measures such as:

●     Stem Cell Therapy

●     Medication

After medical treatment, an intensive rehabilitation program is carried out, comprising the following:

●     Occupation therapy

●     Physiotherapy

●     Speech and language therapy

The aim is to maximize the individual’s independence and provide them and their families with care and support. Although recuperation may be slow and difficult, children can recover most of their abilities and grow up to have a good quality of life.