Children & families |
Stroke in children - section 1What is a stroke?A stroke is a sudden disruption to the blood supply of the brain. It affects neurological functions - that is, functions which are controlled by the brain, such as movement and speech. There are two major types of stroke:
Both types of stroke cause damage to brain cells. The resulting difficulties experienced by the child depend on the area of the brain which is affected. This leaflet is mainly about ischaemic stroke. Are strokes common in children?Every year, about five out of every 100,000 children have a stroke. That means around 100 children in total every year in the UK. Stroke is much less common in children than in adults. What causes strokes in children?About half of all affected children have an underlying medical condition - for example, sickle cell anaemia or a heart problem - which increases their chance of having a stroke. The other half are apparently healthy beforehand. There are many possible causes of stroke in this group of children. One of the commonest is a narrowing of the blood vessels within the head as a result of the chickenpox virus. This is a rare effect of chickenpox and it is not known why some children develop this complication. Other causes of childhood strokes include other abnormalities in the blood vessels supplying the brain or an increased tendency for the blood to form clots. In around 10% of children who have a stroke, no cause is identified despite extensive tests. The causes of strokes in children are not the same as in adults. Adult strokes are often brought on by smoking, high blood pressure or "furring up" of the arteries. What are the signs that a child has had a stroke?This depends on the area of the brain which has been affected by the stroke. As with adults, the most common effect of strokes in children is weakness down one side of the body. In a toddler this may be relatively difficult to recognise. It may appear that he or she is having difficulty with balance. A child’s face may droop on one side and his or her speech may be affected. Some strokes affect the areas of the brain responsible for balance and co-ordination. Is it painful for the child?Older children often complain of headache at the time of a stroke. Apart from this there is usually no pain. Sometimes in the days after a stroke, children may experience cramps, particularly in their affected hand or foot. Ref: F010034 © GOSH Trust 2001 |
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UCL Institute of Child Health
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
