What You Need to Know If Your Cerebral Palsy Child Suffers a Stroke

The image most people get when they hear about a stroke is that of an adult, usually older, with the resulting paralysis and cognitive issues. But strokes can also happen to children, infants and even the unborn fetus. In the United States, stroke ranks number 15 as the cause of death in children ages 0-14. Pediatric stroke also increases the risk that a child may develop cerebral palsy. If a child has suffered a stroke, with early detection and treatment, the chances for further damage and recurrence can be minimized.

In short, a stroke is the sudden death of brain cells in a localized area due to inadequate blood flow. There are two common types of strokes: hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is the bursting of a blood vessel within the brain. An ischemic stroke is the result of an obstruction or clot within an artery that inhibits proper blood flow to the brain. Children are equally susceptible to each type.

Heart conditions and blood disorders are known risk factors that can contribute to the increased susceptibility for stroke. For instance, children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are most at risk for ischemic stroke, usually occurring around the age 5. Children suffering from hemophilia or AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) are more at risk for a hemorrhagic stroke. The greatest risk for pediatric stroke comes in the first year of child's life.

Children, especially those under the age of 3, most likely lack the communication skills required to let you know they need help. Therefore when it comes to infants, parents and other care givers must be especially vigilant to warning signs such as a seizure, as it could indicate a stroke. If a child is of the age where he or she is walking and or talking, the development of a slur, noticeable imbalance or blurred visions could be symptomatic of a stroke.

If a child has been diagnosed as having had a stroke, as with anything, the sooner treatment and therapy begins, the more favorable the results. There are medications that prevent blood clotting in children and surgeries aimed at reducing abnormal blood pressure within the brain. Dealing with stroke in a child is different than with an adult. Consult a pediatric neurosurgeon for the best course of action.

Hemiplegia (paralysis to one side of the body) and hemiparesis (a less severe weakened state to one side of the body) are common results of stroke to persons of all ages. In children, whose brain is still in development, stroke can result in the development of spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy. Spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy results in the full or partial paralysis to one side of the body. Hyperactivity, delayed walking, unexplained aggressiveness, epilepsy, seizures, speech impairments are among the challenges that these children could face.

As with other forms of cerebral palsy, there are treatment options and physical therapies available to improve the child's issues of mobility and overall quality of life. Pediatric stroke can be a terrifying event in the life of a child and his family. While some may face long-term challenges, most go on to live rewarding and healthy lives.

Cerebral Palsy Disorder In Infant

When cerebral palsy comes to infant then it may take a number of years to deduct the cerebral palsy symptoms and in most rare case it should be an important child should need to reach the age of 3.  Most of the time, it is more difficult to diagnosis cerebral palsy before this age. 

In the current scenario, cerebral palsy is categories into two parts known as Acquired cerebral palsy and congenital cerebral palsy.

 

Acquired Cerebral Palsy

This will occur in around 20% of all infants who suffer from this disorder and will normally have been gotten after the child has been born. This particular form of the disorder can be caused in a number of ways. The main causes are through an injury to their head or through them suffering from an infection in their brain such as bacterial meningitis both of which will result in damage occurring to the brain.

Congenital Cerebral Palsy

Of the two types of this disorder, a child can suffer from this is the more common. But with this particular form of the disorder, it takes it some time before it can be detected. Often there has been damaged caused to the motor areas of the child's brain and this can be caused by various different things.

One of the main ways that an infant will end up suffering from cerebral palsy is that they have suffered from an infection or damage has been caused to their brain whilst still in the womb. Furthermore, during the actual labor and delivery stages, a child could incur damage to the brain at this time and this will further increase the risk of them suffering from this disorder. Whilst another way in which an infant could end up suffering from cerebral palsy is if they contract jaundice and the condition is left untreated.

But unlike some other disorders including MS, this is not a deteriorative one so as the child grows up their condition will not get any worse. But for some children, their parents may notice that their motor skills and development seems to deteriorate over time and when this occurs, their doctor will carry out further to tests in order to find what other things could be causing this to happen.

Although there is, no cure for infant cerebral palsy there are many treatments, which are now, used that can help to reduce the symptoms that they suffer from. But how effective and successful the treatments are that your doctor and team of health specialists choose will depend upon the severity of the disorder. In many cerebral palsy infants can live their proper life using proper medications and treatment from the cerebral palsy doctor and specialist. 

Kid With Diplegic Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Success Story Of Trishla Foundation

Multimodal intensive therapy is mandatory in early age child with cerebral palsy to get a good outcome. Most of the parents wast their time in un-useful routine exercise and lastly, children do not get good milestone at their age. These children need task-oriented exercise after detail assessment. when you provide good quality therapy to the child along with training of parents then these children start showing an unbelievable response within a short time. Thanks to Father of Riyansh for sharing their experiences and very informative message to parents of CP children. visit www.trishlafoundation.com for more info.

Trishla Foundation is a No.1 NGO for cerebral palsy diagnosis, cerebral palsy therapy and cerebral palsy surgery treatment in India.  This foundation gives new life to more than 15000 children affected with cerebral palsy, orthopaedic, limb deformity and other physical disability problem.

If you have any query then contact Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain at Trishla Foundation, the best cerebral palsy treatment centre in India.