A stroke is a sudden, unexpected interruption in the brain’s blood supply. It is caused by blockage or by blood leaking from veins or arteries into the brain. The resulting change in blood supply damages the brain cells, affecting movement, speech or other functions controlled by the brain.
Stroke in children and newborn babies is very rare. Children under two can be affected by stroke if they have particular types of heart problems, malformations of the blood vessels in the brain, or some underlying medical condition.
Because children’s brains are still growing, they have a better chance of recovery than adults, but there can be long-term effects including epilepsy, movement problems, changes in behaviour and intellectual disability.
Common signs of stroke in children include:
- weakness down one side of the body, which can seem like a difficulty with balance
- affected speech
- brief loss of vision
- a drooping face
-
seizures
- foot or hand cramps.
The following professionals can help: paediatrician, haematologist, neurologist, educational advisor, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, social worker, speech pathologist.
