Can children have strokes?

Children may also have strokes, especially hemorrhagic strokes. The causes of stroke in children are different from those in adults and require prompt diagnosis and treatment. Common risk factors for stroke in children include:

Congenital heart disease;

Hematological diseases, such as sickle cell disease, leukemia, thrombocytopenia, etc.;

Vascular system abnormalities, such as arteriovenous malformations, intracranial artery stenosis or occlusion;

Infectious diseases, such as meningitis, sepsis, otitis media, etc.;

head trauma or surgery;

Inborn errors of metabolism, such as mitochondrial disease, hyperhomocysteinemia, etc.

Genetic or familial factors, such as coagulation factor deficiency, fibrinogen abnormalities, etc.;

Clinical manifestations of stroke in children are similar to those in adults and include:

Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body;

Sudden facial or mouth deviation;

Sudden speech problems or difficulty understanding;

Sudden headache, vomiting, or confusion;

Sudden visual disturbances or abnormal eye movements;

Sudden onset of gait disturbance or ataxia;

Sudden onset of seizure or hemiplegic migraine.

If a child is suspected of having a stroke, he or she should be sent to the hospital as soon as possible for neuroimaging examinations, such as CT, MRI, MRA, etc., to confirm the diagnosis and assess the extent of the injury. The treatment of childhood stroke depends on the specific cause and severity, and may include anticoagulation, thrombolysis, vascular reconstruction, surgical removal of hematoma and other measures. After a stroke, children also need rehabilitation training and intervention to prevent recurrence.