Children Have Strokes, Too!

FAST Response Matters

According to the National Stroke Association, “On average, it takes 12 to 24 hours for adults to get to the hospital after recognizing the first symptom of stroke. That time shoots to 48 to 72 hours for children. This delay occurs mostly due to the widespread belief that strokes don't happen to children. Chicken pox, croup, ear infections -- these are the things we associate with sick children. Not stroke.” (www.stroke.org)

Stroke in childhood, although rare, occurs as often as childhood brain tumors. Statistics show that on an annual basis about 1 in 4,000 babies and 1 in 8,300 children will have a stroke. (www.pediatricstroke.org) The causes of stroke in children is vastly different from the widely known adult causes.

Childhood stroke is most often caused by infections (meningitis, encephalitis, etc.) trauma, blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease), metabolic or vascular disorders, congenital or acquired heart disease. However, in one third of affected newborns and one tenth of affected children, no cause is found. (www.chasa.org)

Infants and children will often have long-term disabilities resulting from stroke. Hemiplegia, cerebral palsy, seizures, speech/hearing/vision difficulties, learning delays, behavioral difficulties and sensory impairments are some of the more common results.

The most effective treatments for stroke are given within the first three hours of symptom onset, thus early recognition of stroke in children is imperative. The National Stroke Association recommends using the following tool “to help you think F.A.S.T.”

FACE	Ask the child to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS	Ask the child to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH	Ask the child to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can the patient repeat the sentence correctly?
TIME	If the child shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Our Programs and Services for Stroke Survivors

Are you or your child a stroke survivor? Courage Center has a wide variety of programs and services to address the diverse needs of this population including:

Physical Therapy