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...
This article was inspired by an eight-year-old who shares her story of her journey with co-morbidities secondary to stroke. Adela says, “I am okay that I had a stroke, but I don’t want to have seizures anymore.” “Comorbidities” are medical conditions that you have in...
Non-traumatic hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by vascular malformations (abnormal formation of blood vessels in the brain during fetal life), can be hard to recognize in children. When a child has a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding inside the brain), it might seem...
Background Pediatric hemorrhagic stroke (PHS) happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts in a child aged 28 days to 18 years. It can cause brain damage or death and is one of the top ten causes of death in children. In Hong Kong, about 2 out of every 100,000...
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...
It was our first ski trip as a family of five when our lives were turned upside down. On the first morning of our vacation, I immediately noticed slight changes in my two-year-old daughter, Adalee. Her smile looked different, and part of her face was not moving the...
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...
Keywords ARTERIAL ISCHEMIC STROKE CEREBRAL PALSY EPILEPSY PERINATAL STROKE Hi, my name is Francesca, and I’m the proud mom of Mario. Mario was born 14 years ago. I had a hard pregnancy and had to stay in bed for eight months. Mario was born premature at 36...
I never considered myself an advocate until I became a parent. It started when my oldest child almost died from a severe reaction to peanuts almost 30 years ago. I got involved with my local allergy group and shared our story. It was rewarding to have a community that...
Objective: This study aimed to understand how often feeding and swallowing problems—called dysphagia—occur in babies and children after a stroke. The researchers wanted to learn when these problems arise, how long they continue, and which children are most at risk....
Abstract:This review looked at kids who have had a stroke or who have one sided cerebral palsy caused by a stroke or other type of brain injury that have trouble eating and swallowing. It also looked at how these problems affect their health and their caregivers....
Background and Purpose A neonatal arterial ischemic stroke is a stroke that happens within the first 28 days of a baby’s life. It occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. This prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching parts of...
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...
This systemic review looks at current evidence on how well motor-based therapies work for infants aged 0-2 years who are diagnosed with or at high risk for cerebral palsy. It highlights strengths and weaknesses in the research to help improve clinical care and guide...
Historically, cerebral palsy was often diagnosed when a child was at least two years old, leading to delays in treatment. However, physicians are now able to diagnose cerebral palsy in children as young as 6 months old by reviewing their medical history along with...
Objective This study looked at the most effective early motor therapy options for infants (0-3 years old) who have been diagnosed with, or are at risk for, cerebral palsy. The primary aim was to identify which therapies yield the best outcomes, especially when...
Objective: The study wanted to understand how moms and dads feel and what they go through when their baby has something called perinatal stroke. The researchers also wanted to learn how this affects the family and figure out ways doctors and nurses can help them...
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...
Many years after my ischemic stroke at the age of 10 left me frozen with fear on my middle school blacktop (school playground), I am proud to say that I have continued following the dream that I set out for myself. My desire to pursue medicine, which is the excellence...
When I began working on Walsy, a graphic novel series inspired by my son, I wanted to create more than just a story—I wanted to spark conversations around empathy, inclusion, and the unique experiences of children with disabilities. My son was born with his hand in a...
Stroke, generally known as an injury to part of the brain, is considered to be an significant cause of death and long-term health problems in children. This study looked at how often kids in Taiwan have strokes and what puts them at risk. Please note, the data only...
This study aimed to explore the causes of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in children. This condition occurs when a blocked artery prevents blood from reaching the brain. The study also aimed to find out how these causes relate to the child’s age, where they live, and...
Summary: This study investigates the differences between two types of stroke in children: arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and hemorrhagic stroke (HS). It focuses on their causes, risk factors, symptoms, and outcomes. Even though strokes are rare in children, they can...
The internet provides vast information about rehabilitation for children. Like most topics, information ranges from reliable and useful to nonsense and dishonest. Professionals can turn to peer-reviewed journal articles for vetted information, but even this process...
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....
Objective: The goal of this study was to identify how long it takes to diagnose an arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in children. This type of stroke occurs when an artery gets blocked by a blood clot, compressed from the outside, or damaged, stopping oxygen from...
In this study, researchers looked at how much pediatric doctors in Germany knew about strokes in kids. An online survey was sent to 1,697 doctors in Bavaria, Germany who work with children in hospitals and clinics. 14% of the doctors participated. The results of the...
A leading cause of death and disability in adults is stroke. However, the burden of stroke can be reduced in most cases if proper steps are taken. Patients and/or caregivers must identify it as a stroke and promptly receive appropriate medical care. The study looked...
Background: This study sought to explore how the community and schools where children live might affect what they know about stroke. This information could benefit public stroke education campaigns, which can increase awareness about early warning signs and...
Strokes are difficult to detect in young children due to stroke not usually being suspected and because of unfamiliar symptoms. The Early Recognition of Pediatric Strokes in the Emergency study aimed to identify potential reasons for the delay in stroke recognition...
My family’s life changed forever on April 10, 2020, the day my 15-year-old son, Kyler, suffered a brain bleed, and I learned a child can have a stroke just like an adult. Through an MRI, Doctors found out my son was born with a Parietal / Occipital / Thalamic brain...
Reference: https://morganscamp.org/ By Tricia PlumbHow can physicians, medical providers, children, and families come together for a few days of education and fun for everyone? Enter Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas, an accessible camp for children with...
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...
What are clinical trials?Clinical trials are an essential part of clinical research. They allow researchers to study the ways in which new medical approaches affect health outcomes. These new methods might have to do with researchers creating new treatment options....
Introduction: Many children in Nigeria have sickle cell anemia, more than any other country. These children are oftentimes more likely to have a stroke. A stroke can happen because of low blood count, swollen blood vessels, heart problems, and trouble with blood...
Objective: To see if administration of long-term transfusion (transfer of healthy red blood cells) in children with sickle cell anemia can improve growth.Study design: In the Stroke Prevention Trial for Sickle Cell Anemia Study, patients were randomly put in two...
The Post-STOP study looked at how often bleeding in the brain, called hemorrhagic strokes, occurs in children and young adults with sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is a condition where the red blood cells, normally round, are shaped abnormally (sickle shape)....
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...
Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited disease where red blood cells change shape and become sickle-shaped instead of round. Since this can clog and damage blood vessels, it also increases the risk of stroke. In wealthier countries, children with SCA who face a high...
Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that causes red blood cells to stick together leading to infections and episodes of pain and difficulty breathing. Around 8% of children with sickle cell disease will have a stroke. An important study, The Stroke Prevention...
The Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) was a research study aiming to see if regular blood could help stop the first stroke in children with sickle-cell anemia who were at high risk. They used a technique called transcranial Doppler (TCD) to identify...
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood problem where your red blood cells, which are usually round and flexible, change into a shape like a crescent or sickle. These odd-shaped cells can get stuck in the tiny pathways in our body, called blood vessels, which can...
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...
I was born premature by C-section because I was in danger of asphyxia or suffocating. My parents and older brother were waiting impatiently for me, they couldn't wait to see me. The beginning of our meeting was not very joyful because I was born with ischemia of my...
In our ongoing work, researchers at the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery (CBPR) at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, are studying the effects of childhood stroke on cognitive and language abilities. Drs. Elissa Newport, William...
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...
My name is Tommy Quick. I am 30 years old. I celebrated my 30th birthday on the 2nd of August at the tip of Cape York Peninsula, far North Queensland Australia. I was born in Melbourne, an ordinary boy from an ordinary family in an ordinary suburb of Melbourne. My...
Vein of Galen malformations (VOGMs) are one of the most severe brain vascular problems in children VOGM happens in arteries, veins, and blood vessels do not form correctly early on in development. Despite treatment, children may face issues like heart problems,...
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...
by Anonymous “This is it for me.” That was my first thought when my vision all of a sudden went blurry while I was washing my face. Little did I know that this sudden blurriness was a sign of a stroke and would be the start of a scary and painful journey. It was a...
by Ilona Kopyta Childhood stroke is a challenge. This challenge is the same in every part of the world. It can affect a patient, parent, guardian, paramedic, physician, or physiotherapist. The first and maybe the most important point to address this problem is...