Clinical Spectrum of Pediatric Stroke in The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Faisalabad

Abstract

Background: In different geographical regions, the clinico-etiological spectrum of childhood stroke varies widely, posing significant effects on children.

Objective: To determine etiology, types and symptoms of stroke in children presenting to the Children’s Hospital & Institute of Child Health Faisalabad.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on 108 children who presented with a focal neurological deficit lasting more than 24 hours was done from September 2022 to September 2023. Children were diagnosed with a stroke after a comprehensive clinical history, neurological assessment, and neuroimaging results. Under the direction of imaging data and clinical presentation, investigations were carried out as needed to identify the stroke's underlying etiology.

Results From a total of 108 children, 57 (52.8%) were males and 51 (47.2%) were females. Mean age of the children was 5.08±3.76 years. The most common mode of presentation was seizure 40 (37%) followed by visual disturbance in 24 (22.2%). The right side of the body was affected in 53 (49.1%) children, the left in 49 (45.4%) and bilateral in 6 (5.6%). Site of lesion in 40 (37%) children was frontal, followed by parietal and temporal in 22 (20.4%) children. Causes of strokes were vascular in 38 (35.2%) children, cardiac in 18 (16.7%) and CNS infection and hematological in 17 (15.7%) children respectively. Stroke was infarctive in 90.8% children.

Conclusion: Infarctive stroke is highly prevalent, and vascular etiologies are the most common cause of stroke in children. Frontal area of the brain is affected among significant number of children. Prompt intervention and a ..................