Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
Strokes
more often associated as
disease
adults.But in reality, this condition can also occur in babies,
children
, up to teenagers.
Stroke is a serious condition when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, causing damage to brain tissue.
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Even though it is rare, stroke in children is still life-threatening and needs to be recognized early.
Quoted from the page
Cleveland Clinic
, stroke in children is a condition of brain damage, which is caused by disruption of blood flow to parts of the brain.
Strokes can be experienced by children and babies.There are three stroke conditions that can occur in children, namely perinatal stroke which occurs from the time the child is born until the age of 28 days.
Then there are neonatal strokes which occur in babies less than 4 weeks old, and pediatric strokes which occur after the age of 28 days to 18 years.
Strokes in children are rare.It is estimated that there are 1-2 cases per 100 thousand children each year, while perinatal stroke occurs in around 1 in 3,500 live births.This figure is difficult to ascertain because strokes in babies and children are often not easily recognized.
Causes of stroke in children
There are three types of strokes that can affect children, as quoted from the page
American Stroke Association
.
The first is ischemic stroke, which is when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain.The causes of strokes are due to congenital heart problems such as abnormal heart valves or infections.
Both are hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by bleeding in the brain tissue.When a blood vessel in the brain bursts, blood cannot flow to the area it should.As a result, this part of the brain does not get oxygen and can suffer permanent damage.
Hemorrhagic stroke usually occurs due to the rupture of a weak or abnormal artery, such as arteriovenous malformation (AVM).The risk of bleeding can also increase in certain conditions, for example hemophilia.
The third is transient ischemic stroke (TIA), which is a ‘mini stroke’ that causes temporary symptoms.
Specific causes in children include congenital heart defects, genetic disorders, serious infections, blood disorders (such as blood that clots easily), and dehydration.
Symptoms of stroke in children
Children who have a stroke can show symptoms similar to adults, such as the following:
– changes in behavior or way of thinking,
– hearing or vision impairment,
– movements become stiff or awkward,
– difficulty swallowing,
– weakness on one side of the body,
– difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
But, in babies and young children, stroke symptoms are often unclear.They may actually show signs such as the following:
– convulsions,
– headache,
– nausea and vomiting,
– get tired easily,
– fever.
Knowing the causes and symptoms of stroke in children is very important so that parents can be more alert.Although cases are rare, strokes can occur suddenly and have serious consequences.
By recognizing the signs early on, your child’s chances of getting quick treatment and recovering better will be greater.If suspicious symptoms appear, seek medical help immediately.
(avd/asr)
