![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capenotrequired.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/My-Son-Had-a-Stroke-Before-He-Was-Born.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Disclaimer: The author of the content below is not a medical professional and does not have any medical training. As such, the contents on this page, including text, graphics, images, and any other material are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Our full medical disclaimer<\/a> can be found by clicking here<\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n When James was born via emergency c-section at around 12:30 am on August 29th<\/sup>, 2009, we knew almost immediately that something was wrong. He was alive and breathing, but he didn\u2019t cry and didn\u2019t seem to have a suck\/swallow reflex. We got to see him just briefly before he was whisked away to the NICU<\/a> for further evaluation and testing.<\/p>\n In the NICU<\/a> he was hit with a barrage of tests trying to determine what was wrong with James and what we were dealing with. On August 30th<\/sup>, an EEG was done on his brain and an MRI was ordered to look for normal brain function. On September 1st the results of both came back. The EEG results were fine, but the MRI showed that James might<\/em> have had little in utero strokes early in the pregnancy.<\/p>\n \u201cWait\u2026what?\u201d \u201cJames had a stroke?\u201d<\/em> Those were the first questions out of our mouths when we were told the news. We didn\u2019t know that it was possible for a fetus to have a stroke, but apparently it is.<\/p>\n You might have noticed that I said, \u201cJames might<\/em> have had strokes early in the pregnancy\u201d. Might being the key word. In conversations between neurologists, they weren\u2019t totally 100% sure that they were strokes because they happened so long ago. Regardless if they were strokes or not, we set out to find out as much about strokes as we could.<\/p>\n It became apparent pretty quickly that there was not much information out there about in utero stokes. Most of the articles and information we came across was about strokes in adults. We did, however, come across one site, kidshavestrokes.org<\/a>, that did a fairly decent job of discussing strokes in kids, both after they are born, and when they are still in the womb. That was back in 2009, and it appears that that site no longer exists. That website now (in 2020) redirects to chasa.org<\/a>, which also has some really good info on pediatric stroke.<\/p>\n What I intend to do with this page is to answer many of the questions we had when we found out James had a stroke in utero, and also to answer many of the other common questions that we didn\u2019t think to ask. \u00a0\u00a0If you found this page through a search because your little one had a stroke either before or after birth, hopefully this will answer many of your questions. I will include links to other sites that I gathered the answers from if you are interested in reading more detailed information.<\/p>\n Before I get started with the questions and answers, I just want to note that the information I have provided here is focused specifically on pediatric stroke. When most people hear the word \u201cstroke\u201d, they think of an adult. Although strokes are more common in adults, they do still happen in kids, both before and after birth. And while there are some similarities between strokes in kids and strokes in adults, particularly with regards to the symptoms and treatment of a stroke.<\/p>\n Because this is a rather long article, I wanted to try to make it a bit easier on you. You can either read (or skim) through this entire article from top to bottom, or you can click on one of the questions below and be automatically taken to the answer for that question. \u00a0If there is an additional question you would like to have answered, simply click the back button on your browser and you will come back to the list of questions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What is a pediatric stroke?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n How common are strokes in infants and children?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n What are the different types of stroke?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n What causes strokes? What are the risk factors?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n What are the signs and symptoms of a pediatric stroke?`<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n How is a stroke diagnosed?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n How are strokes treated?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n What kinds of problems can a stroke cause?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A pediatric stroke is similar to a stroke in an adult. Both cases involve blood supply to the brain. The Internet Stroke Center<\/a> describes a stroke as \u201ca sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain. Most strokes are caused by an abrupt blockage of arteries leading to the brain (ischemic stroke).\u00a0 Other strokes are caused by bleeding into brain tissue when a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). Because stroke occurs rapidly and requires immediate treatment, stroke is also called a brain attack. When the symptoms of a stroke last only a short time (less than an hour), this is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke.\u201d<\/p>\n The American Stroke Association<\/a> says that a \u201cstroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.\u201d<\/p>\n Johns Hopkins Medicine<\/a> talks specifically about pediatric stroke when it says \u201cas with adults, without prompt and appropriate treatment, stroke in children can be life threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Stroke is among the top 10 causes of death in children. Pediatric stroke can also cause neurologic disability, with a risk of permanent long-term cognitive and motor impairment. IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS HAVING A STROKE, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n It was mentioned that if James did have a stroke, it would have been an ischemic stroke, where the blood flow to the brain got blocked. It was discovered through one of the blood tests he had while in the NICU that James has Factor V Leiden, which is a blood clotting disorder in which there is an increased tendency to form abnormal blood clots. <\/em><\/p>\n I don\u2019t recall it ever being mentioned, but is it possible that the Factor V Leiden caused a blood clot that traveled\u00a0to his brain and caused a stroke? I\u2019m not a doctor and have zero medical training, but it sounds logical, doesn\u2019t it?<\/em><\/p>\n Unfortunately in James case, the stroke was in utero and there was no way of us knowing that he was having a stroke. When we found out about the stroke after he was born, it was too late. The damage had already been done.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStroke in children is uncommon but not as rare as we used to think,\u201d says E. Steve Roach, M.D. in a July 21, 2008 article in the Journal of the American Heart Association<\/a>. \u201cThe risk of stroke from birth through 18 years is 10.7 per 100,000 children per year.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)<\/a>, \u201cpediatric stroke affects 25 in 100,000 newborns and 12 in 100,000 children under 18 years of age. Stroke is the sixth leading cause of death in children.\u201d<\/p>\n Better Health Channel<\/a> says that \u201cstroke is relatively rare among children. It is thought that around two out of every 100,000 children are affected worldwide each year. Most cases occur in children under two years of age.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are actually a few different types of strokes. Some sites list two (2) types or stroke; some sites list three (3); and some sites list four (4). I want to make this as complete and informative as possible, so I will list the four types of strokes that I found.<\/p>\n Arterial Ischemic Stroke (AIS):<\/span> caused by a blockage of blood flow in arteries leading to the brain from a blood clot or narrowing of an artery.<\/p>\n Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis (CSVT):<\/span> caused by blocked drainage of blood from the brain by blood clots in the int the brain\u2019s venous system. This may go away before permanent damage is done to the brain, or it may cause an ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage.<\/p>\n Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH):<\/span> caused when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the brain tissue. ICH can be further broken down into four (4) types:<\/p>\n An epidural hematoma<\/span> occurs when blood accumulates between the skull and the outermost covering of the brain. It typically follows a head injury and usually with a skull fracture.<\/p>\n A subdural hematoma<\/span> is a collection of blood on the surface of the brain. A typical cause is the head moving rapidly forward then stopping, such as in a car accident. Another cause is child abuse when a child is shaken.<\/p>\n A subarachnoid hemorrhage<\/span> occurs when they there is bleeding between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain. This can be caused by a trauma, or by a rupture of a major blood vessel in the brain.<\/p>\n The most common type of ICH is an intracerebral hemorrhage<\/span> when there is bleeding inside the brain. Unlike the other three (3) types of ICH, an intracerebral hemorrhage is not usually caused by an injury.<\/p>\n Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH):<\/span> bleeding in the space between the brain and surrounding membrane, or subarachnoid space. The bleeding is usually caused by the rupture of an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel in the brain.<\/p>\n Transient ischemic attack (TIA):<\/span> Although this isn\u2019t actually a type of stroke, it is sometimes referred to as a warning or a mini-stroke. In a TIA, there is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that lasts for a short period of time, from just a few minutes up to an hour. According to Mayo Clinic<\/a>, about 1 in 3 people that have a TIA will eventually have a stroke, with about have occurring within a year after the transient attack.<\/p>\n As I mentioned in the answer to the previous question, \u201cWhat is a pediatric stroke\u201d, it is believed that James has an ischemic stroke in utero. Strokes are considered a medical emergency and the quicker you can get to the hospital, the better the outcome can be. Unfortunately for James, there was no way for us to know that he had a stroke. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Johns Hopkins Medicine<\/a>\u00a0answered both of these questions by saying that \u201ccauses of stroke in children are different than those in adults. Risk factors include:<\/p>\n I don\u2019t remember it mentioned in our conversations with doctors, but I\u2019ve always assumed that it was James\u2019 Factor V Leiden blood clotting disorder that caused his stroke.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a> lists the following signs of stroke in Men and Women:<\/p>\n But what about infants and children? They could experience any one of the above symptoms, but depending on their age, they might not be able to tell you that they feel numb or confused or are having trouble seeing. So how would you know if your child had a stroke?<\/p>\n Children\u2019s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA)<\/a> lists the following signs and symptoms of pediatric stroke:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)<\/a> lists the following signs and symptoms of stroke:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)<\/a> also notes that \u201cwhen stroke affects a newborn infant, symptoms may not appear until 4 to 6 months of age in the form of decreased movement or weakness of one side of the body.\u201d<\/p>\n It is extremely important<\/strong><\/span> that you contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider if your child exhibits any of the above symptoms. As Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)<\/a> states, \u201cearly recognition and treatment during the first hours and days after a stroke is critical in optimizing long-term functional outcomes and minimizing recurrence risk.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chasa.org<\/a>\u00a0lists the following tests that may be used to diagnose a stroke:<\/p>\n They did an EEG and MRI on James the day after he was born. It was the MRI that showed that he might have had stroke in utero. I have to stress might because they were not really sure. They also did a blood test while he was in the NICU that revealed that he has Factor V Leiden which is a blood clotting disorder in which there is an increased tendency to form abnormal blood clots.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to KidsHealth.org<\/a>, treatment for a stroke is based on the following:<\/p>\n Chasa.org<\/a> lists the following treatments for pediatric stroke:<\/p>\n Johns Hopkins Medicine\u2019s<\/a> list of treatments also includes medicine and surgery, but add interventional neuroradiology as a treatment option. They also go into more detail for each treatment option:<\/p>\n \u201cClot-busting\u201d medications used successfully in adults have not yet been approved for use in children, but they may be considered in certain situations.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chasa.org<\/a> says that \u201csome, but not all children who\u2019ve had a perinatal stroke or a stroke during childhood may develop:<\/p>\n They also note that \u201cchildren often receive occupational and physical therapies\u00a0for decades<\/strong>\u00a0to help them learn functional skills of daily living and increase movement if they\u2019re experiencing motor difficulties. Children with epilepsy usually take medication to stop or reduce seizure activity. Special educational programs may address learning and behavioral differences.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are feeling a little discouraged about the possible outcomes of a stroke that are listed above, kidshealth.org<\/a> offers a bit of hope. \u201cAt this time, there’s no treatment that can fix brain cells that have died. But undamaged brain cells can learn to do the jobs of cells that have died, especially in young people. In many cases after a stroke, kids can learn to use their arms and legs and speak again through brain retraining. This process is usually slow and difficult. But kids have an edge over adults because their young brains are still developing. Most kids who have had strokes can interact normally and be active members of their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if the doctors can\u2019t say with 100% certainty that James had a stroke, we believe he did. If he didn\u2019t have a stroke in utero, how else would we explain his cerebral palsy<\/a>, epilepsy, no suck\/swallow reflex, and vision issues?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even though pediatric stroke is fairly uncommon, they do occur. If you found this article through a Google search, I hope I was able to answer any questions you may have had. If not, and you are looking for further information, please click on the links that I have sited throughout this article. Those links will open in a new browser tab.<\/p>\n And if there is one thing I was to reiterate, it is this:<\/p>\nWhat is a pediatric stroke?<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
How common are strokes in infants and children?<\/span><\/h4>\n
What are the different types of stroke?<\/span><\/h4>\n
What causes strokes? What are the risk factors?<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
What are the signs and symptoms of a pediatric stroke?<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
How is a stroke diagnosed?<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
How are strokes treated?<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
What kinds of problems can a stroke cause?<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
Summary<\/span><\/h4>\n