If a child has a stroke, this indicates that he is suffering from an acute circulatory disorder in the brain. In this case, one of the main organs of the human body does not receive the required amount of useful components, which is why its work is completely disrupted. As a rule, you can recognize the problem by some symptoms.
Baby stroke
Before a stroke, any person has a disruption of the central nervous system. However, there are other signs by which you can determine that the child may face a similar problem in the future. The fact is that in children a similar ailment manifests itself a little differently.
You also need to be prepared to take emergency measures to help the baby. It should be borne in mind that today stroke in children, the causes of which can be very different, is becoming more common. Usually this is 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 inIn this case, we are talking about an acute circulatory disorder, because of which 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 occurs most often in young children. Hemorrhagic stroke involves a rupture of blood vessels with their subsequent hemorrhage into neighboring tissues. Because of this, a hematoma appears, which presses on the tissue.
In this state, the death of neurons often occurs. And if the blood breaks into the ventricles of the brain, then in this case the cavity is filled with blood.
Ischemic
This kind 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 such a problem, the work of neurons is disrupted or their work completely stops. 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 perform their main function. If the child suffers from a lack of blood circulation, then this leads to oxygen starvation and to the fact that the baby's brain does not receive nutrients. Since the remains of the decay products are not excreted from the body, this leads to the so-called cell poisoning. It is at this moment that cerebral ischemia sets in.
Within 3 minutes, it can happen that the neurons of the brain can completely die. If athere is a death of a whole group of cells, then a similar 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 stop conducting nerve impulses.
Intrauterine or Perinatal
From this stroke, the baby can suffer even before he is born. However, complications of this phenomenon can harm the entire subsequent life of the child. Most often this happens with premature babies. These children are often diagnosed with a developmental disorder. Paralysis occurs in some situations.
If a child was born much prematurely, then in this case there is a high risk of mental disorders from which he will suffer in the future. In addition, speaking about this type of stroke, you should pay attention to the weight of the baby. If he was born very small (less than 1 kg), then with one hundred percent probability it can be assumed that he had a stroke in the womb.
Also, a similar nuisance can occur if intoxication of the body has been recorded. This can happen if the mother leads the wrong way of life when she is in position. If a woman drinks alcohol, smokes, or even uses drugs, then there is a high risk of getting intoxicated and harming the unborn baby.
From this type of stroke are not insured and those who are taking the coursemedicines. You also need to be careful ladies who, in the course of their work, are in close proximity to toxins. They also have a destructive effect on the fetus.
Juvenile
Such strokes happen to 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 such a condition in a baby. There could be many more reasons.
How is a child's stroke different from an adult's
If we talk about the distinctive features of this pathology, then first of all it is worth paying attention to the fact that, when it comes to babies, most often parents note neurological problems. In adults, lesions usually affect the brain.
It is worth noting that a stroke in children under one year old, as a rule, does not have obvious manifestations. It is because of this that it is almost impossible to diagnose pathology. At an older age in children, the signs of a stroke are also mild. Sometimes brain damage becomes a consequence of a microstroke or heart attack. In this case, the child's symptoms will also be mild.
In order to cure the child and protect against problems in the future, completely different methods of treatment will be required. In this case, the same therapy used for adults will not work.
It often happens that children have much more serious complications. On the other hand, in childhood, brain neurons workmuch better than adults. With a slight tissue damage, you can count on a fairly quick recovery. However, it all depends on numerous factors.
Causes of stroke in children
If we talk about adults, then most often they face such a problem against the background of atherosclerosis of the arteries or high blood pressure. In children, the occurrence of a stroke is due to completely different reasons. In this case, there are many options. For example, if we are talking about a hemorrhagic stroke in a child, then doctors most often suspect injury to the blood vessels in the head. This could happen while still in the womb or during childbirth if the baby was injured. In rare situations, babies are injured in the cervical spine during birth.
Also, hemorrhagic stroke can develop on the background of:
- Arterial aneurysm.
- Deficiency of vitamins (especially ascorbic acid).
- Intoxication of the brain due to various infections or under the influence of toxins.
- Brain tumor.
- Abuse of alcohol or drugs if the mother does not manage her lifestyle during pregnancy.
- Pathologies of the hematopoietic system.
- Reduced blood clotting.
- Blood cancer.
- Impaired hemoglobin synthesis.
- Anemia and other pathologies.
If we are talking about ischemic stroke in a child, then in this case, this can happen against the background:
- Various infections (chickenpox, meningitis, encephalitis, etc.).
- Congenital cardiacpathologies.
- Infections of the vascular system.
- Endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, deformation of blood vessels and other ailments).
If a child had a stroke at a perinatal or very young age, then in this case it is worth paying attention to the pathologies that the mother could have. While carrying the baby, she could suffer from swelling of the legs, prenatal waste of amniotic fluid and difficult labor.
Why older babies have strokes
If we are talking about problems of this kind in adolescents, then most often they occur against the background of thrombocytosis. This means that the boy or girl has too high blood clotting. According to the latest medical statistics, up to 50% of adolescents under 18 are already acquiring all sorts of blood pathologies, which can lead to a stroke.
Symptoms of stroke in children
There are a few signs to look out for. For example, if a child has strabismus or moves their eyes too fast, this may be the first sign of a stroke. It is also worth paying attention to whether he suffers from unstable body temperature, trembling of the limbs, convulsions, hypertonicity or vice versa muscle hypotonicity, disorders of autonomic functions in the body, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, hearing problems.
Also, children often experience severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness. If we are talking about a baby, then identifying the pathology is much more difficult, but in thisIn this case, it is worth paying attention to several points.
If the baby constantly strains his facial muscles, often cries, changes his voice or reacts sharply to small stimuli (sound, light, etc.), strongly strains the occipital muscles, this means that you need to be more attentive to his condition.
Diagnosis
First of all, you need to pay attention to the behavior of the child. If he seems strange to parents, you need to ask him to say a phrase, smile or perform some action (for example, touch his nose). If this causes problems for him, then he should immediately contact a specialist who will conduct an appropriate study.
First, a complete blood count is done. If we are talking about a 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 clotting. An additional spinal tap may be required.
An MRI 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, a CT scan may be performed. However, such studies are not available in all regions. Therefore, more often parents can only rely on an MRI of the child's brain.
How to help your baby
If parents have noted at least one sign of a stroke in a child, then you should immediately contact the emergency doctors. However, before their arrivalIt 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, he must be laid face up on the bed and his knees bent. You should also raise the baby's head. You need to open windows, unbutton clothes and provide the child with fresh air. If the baby begins to vomit, it is necessary to immediately turn his head to the 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 a childhood stroke, then in this case you can not count on a quick deliverance from 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 quickly recover from an illness, 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 in such institutions there is all the necessary equipment. After the child undergoes rehabilitation after a stroke in Moscow or another city, he becomes registered with a pediatrician and a neurologist.
Methods of therapy directly depend on the specific type of stroke. For example, if we are talking about an ischemic attack, then in this case, thrombolytictherapy. Hemorrhagic stroke requires the use of hemostatic drugs.
Consequences
If a child suffers 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, there is always a risk of relapse.
There is a risk that the baby will have neurological problems. He may have problems with hearing, vision, motor activity, etc. Often, babies develop cerebral palsy.
