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Stroke can occur in children
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Children and newborn babies can develop a stroke. A stroke is the interruption of blood to the brain. The brain cells in the immediate area die and those in the surrounding areas are affected by the reduced blood flow. Once brain cells die, their functions die with them. The causes of childhood stroke are not well understood, but are thought to include blood vessel problems in the brain and clots travelling from the heart.
Stroke 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. More research is needed to better understand both the causes and the effects of stroke in children.
Types of stroke
There are two main types of stroke:
- Ischaemic stroke – an embolism (either a clot of blood or a piece of debris) blocks a blood vessel in the brain, interrupting blood flow.
- Haemorrhagic stroke – a ruptured blood vessel bleeds into the brain. In newborns, bleeding into the space surrounding the brain can occur and this is called a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
General symptoms of stroke
Children often experience different symptoms of stroke to adults. These can include seizures, headache and fever. However, many of the symptoms of stroke in children are similar to those experienced by adults.
Depending on the areas of the brain affected by stroke, the symptoms can include:
- Brief attacks of weakness
- Clumsiness
- Numbness or pins and needles of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body
- Slurring speech or difficulty finding words
- Brief loss of vision in one or both eyes, if blood vessels in the eye are affected.
Causes of stroke in children
It is currently thought that around a half of all strokes in children are due to blood vessel problems in the brain, while a quarter are due to clots travelling from the heart. In around one-quarter of children, no cause can be found.
The most common known causes of stroke in children include:
- Abnormalities of the blood vessels of the head
- Heart disorders, such as congenital structural defects
- Blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease or blood-clotting problems
- Genetic disorders
- Infections in the skull
- Injury or trauma to the head.
Treatment
Treatment of stroke is similar in both children and adults and can include:
- Hospital admission
- Maintaining optimum pressure inside the skull, by drainage if necessary
- Treating any underlying or associated illnesses
- Investigating and treating the cause to prevent further attacks
- Rehabilitation.
Long-term effects
A child surviving stroke will have to live for more years with functional limitations and disability than an adult. Around 20–40 per cent of children have recurrent strokes and 50–85 per cent of survivors of stroke will be left with long-term problems. These may include:
- Epilepsy
- Movement disorders
- Learning disabilities
- Mental retardation.
Seek urgent medical attention
Stroke is a medical emergency. If your child experiences symptoms such as seizures, loss of speech or paralysis, seek urgent medical attention.
Where to get help
If your child experiences symptoms of a stroke:
- Dial triple zero (000) to call an ambulance, or
- Get them to your nearest hospital emergency department
For more information on stroke:
Things to remember
- Stroke is rare among children, with only two in every 100,000 children being affected worldwide each year.
- The most common cause is blood vessel problems in the brain.
- Symptoms of stroke in children include seizures, fever, speech impairment and paralysis.
You might also be interested in:
Stroke - signs and symptoms.
Stroke is a brain attack.
Transient ischaemic attack.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:
National Stroke Foundation
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Copyight © 1999/2009 State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.
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This Better Health Channel fact sheet has passed through a rigorous approval process. For the latest updates and more information visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
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Last updated: June 2009
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Stroke can occur in children - Better Health Channel
Stroke is rare among children and babies but it can occur. The causes of childhood stroke are not well understood, but are thought to include blood vessel problems in the brain and clots travelling from the heart. In around one-quarter of children with stroke, no cause is found. Symptoms of a stroke in a child include seizures, fever, speech impairment and paralysis. ..
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Stroke can occur in children - Better Health ChannelStroke is rare among children and babies but it can occur. The causes of childhood stroke are not well understood, but are thought to include blood vessel problems in the brain and clots travelling from the heart. In around one-quarter of children with stroke, no cause is found. Symptoms of a stroke in a child include seizures, fever, speech impairment and paralysis. ..
© State of Victoria. All rights reserved
The information published here was accurate at the time of publication and is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Please seek advice from a qualified health care professional.
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