If a child has a stroke, then this suggests that he suffers from an acute circulatory disturbance in the brain. In this case, one of the main organs of the human body does not receive the necessary amount of useful components, which is why its work is completely disrupted. As a rule, you can recognize the problem by some symptoms.
Childhood stroke
Before a stroke, any person has a malfunction of the central nervous system. However, there are other signs by which it can be determined that the child may face a similar problem in the future. The fact is that in children a similar ailment manifests itself in a slightly different way.
You also need to be prepared to take emergency measures to help the baby. It is worth considering that today stroke in children, the causes of which can be very different, is more and more common. This is usually due to poor nutrition and ecology. Therefore, it is important to monitor the work of the baby's cardiovascular system.
If a child has a stroke, then in this case we are talking about an acute circulatory disturbance, which is why the baby has serious problems with the nervous system. Based on this, there are several varieties of this unpleasant condition.
Hemorrhagic
This type of stroke is most common in young children. Hemorrhagic stroke involves a rupture of blood vessels with their subsequent hemorrhage in adjacent tissues. Because of this, a hematoma appears, which presses on the tissue.
In this condition, neurons often die. And if blood breaks into the ventricles of the brain, then in this case the cavity is filled with blood.
Ischemic
This type of stroke in a child is much less common. In this case, we are talking about blockage of the vessel or its reduction. Against the background of a similar problem, the work of neurons is disrupted or their work is completely stopped. At the first stage of ischemic stroke in children, the exchange of electrolytes stops. This leads to a stop in the transmission of nerve impulses. Accordingly, nerve cells cease to fulfill their primary function. If a child suffers from a lack of blood circulation, this leads to oxygen starvation and to the fact that the baby’s brain does not receive nutrients. Since the remains of decay products are not excreted from the body, this leads to the so-called cell poisoning. It is at this moment that cerebral ischemia occurs.
Within 3 minutes, it may happen that brain neurons can die completely. If a whole group of cells dies, then this phenomenon is called necrosis. In addition to neurons, nerve cells that are too close to the affected areas can also be affected in this process.
However, most often with such a stroke in a child, the cells do not die, but completely cease to conduct nerve impulses.
Intrauterine or perinatal
From this stroke, the baby may suffer even before it is born. However, complications of this phenomenon can harm the whole subsequent life of the child. Most often this happens to premature babies. Such children are often diagnosed with impaired development. In some situations, paralysis is observed.
If the baby was born much earlier than the due date, then in this case there is a great risk of mental disorders, from which he will suffer in the future. In addition, speaking of this type of stroke, it is worth paying attention to the weight of the baby. If he was born very small (less than 1 kg), then with one hundred percent probability we can assume that he had a stroke in the womb.
Also, such a nuisance can occur if intoxication of the body has been recorded. This can happen if the mother leads the wrong lifestyle when she is in position. If a woman drinks alcohol, smokes or even uses drugs, then there is a big risk of getting intoxication and harming an unborn baby.
From this type of stroke, those who are taking a course of taking medications are not safe. You also need to be careful of ladies who, in the course of their work, are in close proximity to toxins. They also have a destructive effect on the fetus.
Juvenile
Similar strokes occur in children aged 1 month to 18 years. In this case, there are some differences from the perinatal variety. In this situation, not only a lack of oxygen can provoke this condition in the baby. There can be many more reasons.
How is a stroke different from an adult
If we talk about the distinguishing features of this pathology, then first of all it is worth paying attention to the fact that, when it comes to babies, then most often parents note neurological problems. In adults, lesions usually affect the brain.
It is worth noting that stroke in children under one year of age, as a rule, does not have obvious manifestations. It is because of this that it is almost impossible to diagnose a pathology. At older ages in children, the signs of a stroke also appear dimly. Sometimes brain damage is the result of a micro stroke or heart attack. In this case, the symptoms in the child will also be mild.
In order to cure the child and protect him from future problems, completely different treatment methods will be required. In this case, the same therapy that is used for adults is not suitable.
It often happens that children have much more serious complications. On the other hand, in childhood, brain neurons work much better than in adults. With a slight tissue damage, you can count on a fairly quick recovery. However, it all depends on numerous factors.
Causes of a stroke in children
If we talk about adults, then most often they encounter such a problem against the background of arteriosclerosis of arteries or high blood pressure. In children, the appearance of a stroke is due to completely different reasons. In this case, there are lots of options. For example, if we are talking about a hemorrhagic stroke in a child, then doctors most often suspect an injury to blood vessels in the head. This could happen even in the womb or during childbirth if the baby was injured. In rare situations, babies receive injuries of the cervical spine during birth.
Also, hemorrhagic stroke can develop against the background of:
- Arterial aneurysm.
- Vitamin deficiency (especially ascorbic acid).
- Intoxication of the brain against a background of various infections or under the influence of toxins.
- Brain tumor.
- Alcohol or drug abuse if the mother does not monitor her lifestyle during pregnancy.
- Pathology of the hematopoietic system.
- Decreased blood coagulation.
- Blood cancer.
- Hemoglobin synthesis disorders.
- Anemia and other pathologies.
If we are talking about ischemic stroke in a child, then in this case, this can happen against the background of:
- Various infections (chickenpox, meningitis, encephalitis, etc.).
- Congenital cardiac abnormalities.
- Vascular system infections.
- Endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, deformity of blood vessels and other ailments).
If a stroke occurred in a child at the perinatal or very young age, then in this case it is worth paying attention to the pathologies that the mother might have. During the bearing of the baby, she could suffer from swelling of the legs, prenatal amniotic fluid and difficult births.
Why do strokes occur in older babies?
If we are talking about problems of this kind in adolescents, then most often they arise against the background of thrombocytosis. This means that the boy or girl has too much blood coagulation. According to the latest medical statistics, up to 50% of adolescents under 18 years old already acquire all kinds of blood pathologies, which can lead to a stroke.
Symptoms of a stroke in children
There are several signs that you must pay attention to. For example, if a child has strabismus or moves his eyes too fast, then this may be the first sign of a stroke. It is also worth paying attention to whether he suffers from unstable body temperature, trembling limbs, cramps, hypertonicity or vice versa muscle hypotension, impaired vegetative functions in the body, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, and hearing problems.
Also, children often have severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness. If we are talking about a baby, then identifying the pathology is much more difficult, but in this case it is worth paying attention to several points.
If the baby constantly strains the facial muscles, often cries, changes his voice or reacts sharply to small irritants (sound, light, etc.), greatly strains the occipital muscles, this means that you need to be more attentive to his condition.
Diagnostics
First of all, you need to pay attention to the behavior of the child. If it seems strange to parents, you need to ask him to utter a phrase, smile or perform some action (for example, touch his nose). If this causes him problems, then you should immediately contact a specialist who will conduct the appropriate study.
First, a general blood test is performed. If we are talking about hemorrhagic stroke, then in this case the level of leukocytes will be increased. After that, a coagulogram is performed. Thanks to the data obtained, it will be possible to clarify whether the baby has problems with blood coagulation. Additionally, spinal puncture may be required.
An MRI scan of the child’s brain is also performed. Based on the data obtained, the specialist will be able to confirm or refute the diagnosis without any problems. Additionally, they can have a CT scan. However, such studies are not available in all regions. Therefore, more often parents can only rely on MRI of the child’s brain.
How to help baby
If parents noted at least one sign of a stroke in a child, then you need to immediately contact emergency doctors. However, before their arrival it is very important to provide first aid for a stroke at home. To do this, you need to perform a number of activities that will help improve the condition of the baby.
First, you need to lay him on the bed face up and bend his legs at the knees. You should also raise the baby's head. You need to open the windows, unfasten clothes and provide the child with an influx of fresh air. If the baby begins to vomit, it is necessary to immediately turn his head to one side so that he does not choke.
Before the arrival of doctors, first aid for a stroke at home includes preparation for resuscitation. To do this, it is recommended to remove all metal objects from it and wait for the doctors to arrive.
Treatment
If we are talking about childhood stroke, then in this case you can not count on a quick get rid of the pathology. The first time after the attack, the child is forced to spend in intensive care, only after that he will be transferred to the neurological department.
In order to recover from the disease faster, it is recommended to undergo recovery in a special rehabilitation center. It is best to do this in large cities of the Russian Federation. Since such institutions have all the necessary equipment. After the child undergoes rehabilitation after a stroke in Moscow or another city, he becomes registered with a pediatrician and neurologist.
The methods of therapy are directly dependent on the specific type of stroke. For example, if it is an ischemic attack, then thrombolytic therapy is often performed. With hemorrhagic stroke, the use of hemostatic drugs is required.
Effects
If the child suffered from an attack, then there is a high probability that he may die or at least remain disabled. 10% of children who have had a stroke need daily care from their parents. Even if the baby has undergone rehabilitation after a stroke in Moscow or any other city, the risk of relapse always remains.
There is a risk that the baby will have problems of a neurological nature. He may have problems with hearing, vision, motor activity, etc. Often children develop cerebral palsy.