Ischemic stroke in children - Anan, Noha Mohammed (faculty of Basic Medical Science - Libyan International Medical University, 2018)
It Even Happens in Kids
When we speak of strokes, we often think of them as something that would happen only to older people. But in children; although they are considered rare, they could lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. A stroke is a neurological injury with an underlying vascular damage. It could be either a hemorrhagic or an ischemic stroke; the latter type is subdivided into arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT). The incidence of AIS in western countries was estimated at 2-3/100000 children per year in the first 5 years; while neonatal and perinatal period had a higher incidence at 1/4000 live birth. In USA, strokes are among the most common causes of death in children, especially among those in their first year. Concerning the AIS; children have a wider range of risk factors that includes heart disease, sickle cell disease, infection, thrombotic disorders and trauma. These risk factors often vary according to age and ethnicity. 1 The recurrence rate in pediatric stroke was found at 25%, with a mortality rate that varies between 10-25%. Nearly 66% of those affected will develop neurological deficits, seizure disorders or learning difficulties. Due to lack of awareness, strokes are often underdiagnosed, which increases the severity of its subsequence