Ischemic stroke in children

Abstract

Stroke in children is being increasingly recognized as a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Children and adolescents with stroke have remarkable differences in presentation compared with adults. Sickle cell disease is a major risk factor of overt and silent strokes in children. Cervicocephalic arterial dissection is an important but probably underrecognized cause of stroke in children. Cerebral vasculitis may be considered in children with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, especially recurrent strokes. Cardiac disease is present in 10-30% of children with stroke. Owing to the frequency of stroke mimics in childhood, the diagnosis requires the imaging confirmation of an ischemic lesion.