dc.description | 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 | en_US |