{"id":9587,"date":"2023-08-12T05:20:13","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T05:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/?p=9587"},"modified":"2024-06-21T10:04:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T10:04:19","slug":"can-strokes-occur-in-children-what-are-the-reasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/neurology\/can-strokes-occur-in-children-what-are-the-reasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Strokes Occur in Children? What Are the Reasons?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"caps\">India is quite stroke prone. While age over 65 years is considered a risk factor for stroke, in India stroke affects younger people as well. Time is of essence when dealing managing stroke as treating the patient within the golden window of 4 \u00bd hours is a decisive factor in recovery.<\/p>\n<p>Stroke can lead to long-term neurological deficits \u2013 recovery might take a month, a year, and in some unfortunate cases, complete recovery might not be possible at all. <a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/neurology\/what-is-a-stroke\/\">The recovery depends on how soon a patient is treated following stroke<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As stroke is thought to affect only older people, its symptoms are often overlooked in young patients. Even if the symptoms are not missed, they are mistaken for something else. The thought that it could be a stroke just does not occur to most people.<\/p>\n<div class=\"also-read\">Also Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/neurology\/the-role-of-a-comprehensive-stroke-care-center\/\">The Role of a Comprehensive Stroke Care Center<\/a><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Stroke in Children<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A stroke can manifest at any stage of life, including in children. When strokes occur in children, they are referred to as pediatric strokes. Similar to adults, pediatric strokes can be categorized as ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes, but the characteristics and causes of these strokes differ from those in adults.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>An <a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/neurology\/ischemic-stroke-what-is-it-causes-and-symptoms\/\">ischemic stroke occurs because of a block in the artery<\/a> or vein.<\/li>\n<li>An ischemic stroke can also occur during the birth of the child when there is a birth injury. This is called a presumed perinatal stroke.<\/li>\n<li>Even inside the mother\u2019s womb it is possible for the child to suffer an ischemic stroke. This is called a fetal stroke.<\/li>\n<li>An ischemic stroke experienced by the child soon after delivery is known as a neonatal stroke.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Causes of Stroke in Children<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>Causes for Ischemic Arterial Stroke<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Abnormalities in the heart<\/li>\n<li>Infection or trauma could happen when the baby is coming through the birth canal<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/family-and-general-medicine\/anemia-causes-treatment-and-prevention\/\">Very low hemoglobin<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sometimes chicken pox can lead to ischemic stroke in children as it tends to thicken the blood<\/li>\n<li>Conditions that occur in the arteries themselves during birth (arteriopathy) \u2013 the walls of the artery are not normal and congenital defects are present<\/li>\n<li>Primary CNS vasculitis &#8211; the blood vessels of the brain are abnormally inflamed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Causes for Ischemic Venous Stroke<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Infections<\/li>\n<li>Fever<\/li>\n<li>Dehydration<\/li>\n<li>Clotting disorder at birth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Causes for Hemorrhagic Stroke<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Hemorrhagic disease of new born<\/li>\n<li>Ventilation for premature babies can precipitate intra ventricular hemorrhages and cause a stroke<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Stroke Symptoms in the Younger Generation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It is important to be aware of the symptoms of\u00a0 stroke when younger adults are affected.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Severe headache with no known cause is the most common symptom.<\/li>\n<li>Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, which usually affects just one side of the body.<\/li>\n<li>Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech.<\/li>\n<li>Sudden trouble with vision in one or both eyes.<\/li>\n<li>Sudden trouble with walking, sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other subtle symptoms:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Vertigo \u2013 the patient may feel the room is spinning.<\/li>\n<li>Slurred speech (or dysarthria) which might even manifest as mispronounced words and not actual slurring of speech. In some cases, patients might not be able to find the right words to express themselves \u2013 this is called word finding difficulty.<\/li>\n<li>Double vision or other vision problems.<\/li>\n<li>Nausea and vomiting with headache.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The symptoms are also dependent on the part of the brain that is affected \u2013 whether it is the anterior side or the posterior side. Thus, symptoms can also help in identifying the affected blood vessel.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Risk Factors in Young Adults<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Having the following risk factors increases the possibility of a stroke attack:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/family-and-general-medicine\/hypertension-the-silent-killer\/\">Hypertension<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Diabetes<\/li>\n<li>Previous stroke attacks<\/li>\n<li>Family history of cerebrovascular disease<\/li>\n<li>Dyslipidemia<\/li>\n<li>Illicit drug use<\/li>\n<li>Valvular heart disease<\/li>\n<li>Cardiomyopathy<\/li>\n<li>Atrial fibrillation<\/li>\n<li>Coronary artery disease<\/li>\n<li>Metabolic disorders<\/li>\n<li>High alcohol intake<\/li>\n<li>Smoking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"also-read\">Also Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/neurology\/surgical-options-for-brain-stroke\/\">Surgical Options for Brain Stroke<\/a><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Pre-Strokes Should Not Be Ignored<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While people are made aware that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/centers-of-excellence-and-specialties\/paediatrics-and-neonatology\">stroke symptoms should not be ignored and warrant a doctor consult<\/a>, so too should they know that they cannot ignore a pre-stroke or a mini stroke.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A pre-stroke may last only a few minutes. It will cause minimal weakness, changes in speech, vision, balance and does not cause permanent damage. As a result, patients have a tendency to ignore it.<\/li>\n<li>However, it is a sign of warning of an impending stroke, an attack that can happen in the following months, days or even hours.<\/li>\n<li>The doctor will conduct a physical examination to find out if any neurological deficit was left behind by the pre-stroke. He\/she will evaluate the patient\u2019s speech, eye movement, reflexes, strength and sensory system.<\/li>\n<li>The doctor will also perform some diagnostic tests like CT scan, MRI, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When a pre-stroke is identified in time and treated, 35% of strokes can be averted.<\/p>\n<p>Stroke is preventable and treatable. By recognizing the signs of stroke and acting quickly, we can reduce the stroke burden of our country.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong> Can children have strokes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, children can have strokes. These are known as pediatric strokes and can occur even before birth or shortly after delivery.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What are the common causes of strokes in children?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Common causes include heart abnormalities, infections, low hemoglobin, and congenital defects in the arteries.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What symptoms should parents watch for in children regarding strokes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Symptoms include severe headache, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking, vision problems, and loss of balance.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What is the difference between an ischemic and a hemorrhagic stroke in children?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>An ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in an artery or vein, while a hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in the brain.<\/p>\n<h3><strong> How can early intervention help in stroke recovery for children?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Early intervention within the golden window of 4 \u00bd hours is crucial for effective treatment and can significantly improve recovery outcomes.<\/p>\n<h3><strong> Are there risk factors for strokes in young adults?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, family history, smoking, and high alcohol intake.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"HAMSA Rehab for Kids| Rehabilitation center in Chennai\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7arPqdgctZQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.<\/p>\n<p>Chennai \u2013 Alwarpet\/Vadapalani 044 4000 6000 \u2022 Trichy \u2013 Cantonment \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Trichy \u2013 Heartcity \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Trichy \u2013 Tennur \u2013 0431 4022555 \u2022 Maa Kauvery Trichy \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Kauvery Cancer Institute, Trichy \u2013 0431 4077777 \u2022 Hosur \u2013 04344 272727 \u2022 Salem \u2013 0427 2677777 \u2022 Tirunelveli &#8211; 0462 4006000 \u2022 Bengaluru &#8211; 080 6801 6801<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India is quite stroke prone. While age over 65 years is considered a risk factor for stroke, in India stroke affects younger people as well. Time is of essence when<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-neurology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9587"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10820,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9587\/revisions\/10820"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}