Introduction Pediatric strokes are caused by blocked blood vessels or bleeding in the brain. They are more common than many realize, particularly around birth. Often, parents may not know their child has experienced a stroke until milestones like crawling or talking...
Background This article builds on a previously published caregiver guide listed first in the Resources section, which introduces common therapy models for children with difficulties using one hand. Here, we extend that discussion to focus on how the quality of...
What is rehabilitation? After a stroke, the brain works on healing itself by making new connections between neurons around the injury. These new pathways within the brain help the child continue to learn and grow. This process is called neuroplasticity, which means...
Family-centered care is a way of providing healthcare where the family is an important part of the patient’s recovery. Family is not just a helper. For pediatric stroke (a stroke that happens to a child), this approach is especially important. Children who have had a...
Hemorrhagic Strokes in Neonates A sudden bleed in the brain is called a hemorrhagic stroke. This type of stroke is more common in babies born prematurely (before 32 weeks), but it can also happen in full-term babies. Doctors call it a perinatal stroke if it happens...
Pediatric stroke is a life-altering diagnosis that demands a highly individualized and multidisciplinary approach to care. As therapists and medical professionals, we are acutely aware that access to therapy is just one part of the puzzle. Although most children with...
Introduction – Why I Chose This Topic Hi! My name is Christina Rothfuss, and I am studying occupational therapy (OT) at Southern California University of Health Sciences. In school, I learned that it is important to be ready to help people with many different health...
Introduction Pediatric stroke causes motor impairments in up to 80% of children with stroke. A motor impairment means that part of the body doesn’t work, partially or at all. This is often caused by brain injury, such as strokes. Why would an injury to the brain cause...
What is Perinatal Stroke and how common is it? Perinatal stroke happens in babies between the middle of pregnancy (around 28 weeks) and the first 28 days after birth. Although perinatal strokes can be hard to detect, doctors are getting better at identifying them...
Health inequities remain a serious issue in healthcare, especially for newborns at risk for brain conditions, where early help can make a big difference in their lives. Social determinants of health are social and economic conditions that affect many health...
Homeostasis in Neonatal Stroke , The Challenges of Balance Bodily Systems in Neonatal Stroke". Homeostasis is the way our bodies regulate factors such as temperature, sugar levels, and blood pressure to maintain a stable internal environment. Think of a thermostat...
Introduction A neonatal stroke is a stroke that occurs in a baby before or around the time of birth. Some babies show symptoms right away, such as seizures, and get brain imaging that quickly leads to a diagnosis. Other babies, however, may not show symptoms until...
Author: Sahar M.A. Hassanein, MD Story: One day, Samy started feeling very tired and weak. His parents took him to the hospital, where the doctors found out that he had a stroke. A stroke is a serious problem that happens when blood doesn’t get to the right...
Author: Rabia Qaiser, MD Introduction: In the US, pediatric strokes happen in about 2.5 to 13 out of every 100,000 kids each year. Strokes in children can lead to serious problems that might need surgery, like severe brain swelling and hydrocephalus (fluid...
Authors: Esha Parakh and Claire Champigny Objective: To review post-stroke outcomes, including neurocognitive impairments, mental health challenges, sensory-motor difficulties, and epilepsy. Sequelae means the long-term conditions that happen because of an...
Authors: Rushel Chowhan, MBBS, and Gayatra Mainali, MD Introduction: Stroke at any age is a significant concern with congenital heart disease (CHD). Approximately 30% of all childhood arterial ischemic strokes are due to thrombus (blood clots) arising from the...
Author: Sravya Jaladanki Disclaimer: This article discusses the steps emergency medical services (EMS) personnel can take to identify pediatric stroke and how medics can assist patients before they reach the hospital. This article may be triggering to families...
Author: Rania I. H. Ismail, MB.Bch, MSC, MD, IBCLC Perinatal stroke is a stroke in a baby that occurs between 28 weeks of pregnancy and 28 days after birth.How common is perinatal stroke? Most childhood strokes occur in the perinatal period. This period has the...
Author: Mesha Martinez, MD Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor or another healthcare provider if you or your child needs medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment....
What is sickle cell disease?Sickle cell disease refers to a group of inherited health conditions that affect red blood cells. The specific type a person has depends on which hemoglobin gene mutations (changes) they inherited from their parents. The hemoglobin gene...
The following article has been written after a conversation with Dr. Marcela Torres, a pediatric hematologist at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. We discussed an overview of Sickle Cell Disease, its relation to Stroke, and differences in care and...
Article written based on an interview with Dr. Timothy McCavit, a hematologist at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Imagine your body as a playground, and your red blood cells as little adventurers rolling down a hill. Normally, they're like smooth...
Clinical trials are defined as research studies that test if a treatment is helpful for a disease. People in the study are given a treatment to see if they respond better than people who are not given the treatment. There are many different types of clinical trials...
What is a stroke? A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is disrupted or when there is bleeding in a part of the brain. This can cause the death of brain cells and lead to weakness of arms or legs, difficulty with speech, balance problems, or vision...
Going back to school after a stroke is an important event! To make the transition easier for your child and reduce stress, you need to communicate well with your child's school. Tell the school team, which includes teachers, the principal, the school psychologist, or...
Learning Objectives: Describe how pediatric stroke can impact learning Learn how schools can aid return to learning after stroke Describe how school professionals can monitor school reintegration after pediatric stroke Advice for Parents: Be prepared to be...
Every mother's dream is to have healthy children. When she has an unwell baby, the dream turns into a lifelong nightmare. I, Dr. Sahar Hassanein, went through this bitter experience 30 years ago, when we had a premature baby girl. She spent a week in the neonatal...
What is a stroke? A stroke occurs when a blood vessel (artery) carrying blood with oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke). It can also occur when that blood vessel bursts and bleeds (hemorrhagic stroke). Sometimes a vein which drains blood away...