THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA

Background and key pediatric stroke facts: Stroke syndromes affect 6-13/100,000 children per year, an incidence which is comparable to childhood brain tumors. The mean interval to diagnosis is 24 hrs after symptom onset in children with ischemic stroke, longer for venous thrombosis. In the majority of children with ischemic stroke, parents seek medical attention within the first 6 hrs, but the child’s diagnosis or institution of specific treatment are delayed due to limited awareness by pediatric primary care givers of signs/symptoms and treatment strategies for stroke, or limited access to specialized pediatric stroke care. Many children with stroke syndromes are diagnosed with more common conditions that mimic stroke, e.g. migraine, epilepsy, viral illness. Mortality approaches 15% in cerebral venous thrombosis, and is ~5% for ischemic stroke. Long-term disability affects ~60% of survivors of ischemic stroke. Stroke recurs in ~20% of children (non-neonates) with ischemic stroke. This document provides a very brief introduction to childhood stroke syndromes, initial assessment and treatment suggestions as typically provided at CHOP, and the CHOP Stroke Program. For more information, go to www.chop.edu/stroke, and see the references listed at the end of this document.