Following set of symptoms, when happen to your child you should suspect stroke. Stroke symptoms commonly happen acutely and over period of minutes.
Sudden onset Weakness on one side of body (hands, legs or both)
Sudden onset inability to walk
Sudden onset inability to speak or difficulty speaking
Sudden onset unconsciousness
Sudden onset squinting of eyes
Sudden onset Blurred or double vision
Yes sometime but not often there can be warning signs for stroke. It is called Transient ischemic attack or TIA. It means the symptoms of stroke last for less than 24 hours (often for minutes). It is also referred as ‘mini stroke’ (literally means brief in duration), but symptoms remain the same. Sometimes we see similar symptoms post seizure or post episode of migraine. If such symptom is seen for the 1st time, then it should be evaluated on emergency basis because it might be 1st symptom of stroke.
Causes of stroke are different as per different age.
Newborns:
Perinatal stroke
Bleeding in brain because of various reasons
Severe dehydration
Maternal conditions like (Gestational Diabetes, Hypertension, drug abuse)
Infants and toddlers:
mineralising angiopathy with basal ganglia stroke (Commonly seen in Asian countries including India)
Bleeding in brain because of various reasons
Severe Dehydration
Uncorrected cardiac condition
Severe anemia
Pediatric age group (more than 4-5 years)
Uncorrected cardiac condition
Thrombotic conditions (Conditions where blood has increased tendancy to clot)
Post Chickenpox infection
Severe Anemia
Genetic conditions leading to abnormalities of blood vesseles and bones
Adolescent
Uncorrected or acquired cardiac condition
Thrombotic conditions (Conditions where blood has increased tendancy to clot)
Post Chickenpox infection
Genetic conditions leading to abnormalities of blood vesseles and bones
Vasculitis (Inflammation of blood vesseles)
Trauma
Drug abuse
Stroke is a medical emergency. It should be identified and treated ASAP. If identified in 4 hours from the 1st symptom then treatment for dissolving clot or surgery to remove the clot can be offered.
Often in young children it is not possible to identify symptoms of stroke early. Treatment window of 4 hours is often missed.
If Initial treatment window is missed then, treatment predominantly is focused on:
It Often happens (40%) that, after extensive investigations, we may not be able to pinpoint the cause of stroke.
When should you see a Pediatric neurologist ?
It is important that you see a pediatric neurologist as soon as possible and go to medical center where comprehensive stroke services are offered. At Jupiter Lifeline Hospital, Pune, we offer comprehensive investigative and therapeutic services for stroke.
It is important to identify symptoms of stroke and treat them them as soon as possible. When in doubt get it checked, as, earlier the better.
