Strokes in children

Abstract

Introduction and purpose A stroke is a group of neurological symptoms that develops when blood flow to the brain is stopped suddenly. Stroke is relatively rare in the group of pediatric patients. The incidence is estimated at 2.5 cases per 100,000 children per year. Mortality is up to 4%. Long-term consequences and complications concern more than half of the patients. Brief description of the state of knowledge The etiopathogenesis of stroke in children is diverse. The main risk factors are congenital heart disease, vascular damage, metabolic diseases and infections. The symptoms of a stroke depend on the location and extent of the ischemic changes. In children they may initially be uncharacteristic. The most common are headaches, vomiting, convulsions, disturbed consciousness, and hemiparesis. The gold standard in cerebral ischemia imaging is brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). In treatment controlling vital parameters plays an important role. Treatment includes anti-aggregating and anticoagulant drugs. It is possible to transfuze blood or surgical treatment. Complications of stroke in children are diversify and depend on a lot of factors. These include movement disorders, cognitive functions impairment, tension headaches and difficulty with expression and fluency of speech. Conclusion A stroke is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment. It can have uncharacteristic symptoms in children. Acute cerebral ischemia in children carries the risk of developing long-term, severe complications. Pediatric patients with a history of acute cerebral ischemia should be under the constant care of specialized treatment and rehabilitation centers, which will enable patients to function independently among their peers.

Keywords

• stroke
• children
• pediatry