[Stroke in children and adolescents].

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Stroke in children and adolescents is a rare, critical event with significant morbidity and mortality.
• Delayed diagnosis is common due to rarity and diverse clinical presentations, increasing long-term costs.
• Established risk factors include vasculopathies, infections, cardiac conditions, and coagulopathies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment in pediatric stroke.
• To review current understanding of clinical manifestations, risk factors, and diagnostic standards.
• To discuss treatment options and the impact of early diagnosis on long-term prognosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical presentations, including focal neurological deficits, headache, seizures, and altered consciousness.
• Emphasis on diffusion-weighted, blood-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the gold standard for diagnosis.
• Analysis of common risk factors such as vasculopathies, infections, cardiac conditions, and coagulopathies.

Main Results:

• Pediatric stroke presents with diverse symptoms, often leading to diagnostic delays.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for prompt and accurate diagnosis.
• Risk factors significantly influence stroke recurrence and the likelihood of residual neurological deficits.

Conclusions:

• Early and accurate diagnosis is paramount for improving the long-term prognosis of stroke in children and adolescents.
• While treatment options like thrombolysis and thrombectomy are considered, optimal approaches require further research due to limited randomized controlled trials.
• Addressing underlying risk factors is key to managing stroke recurrence and long-term outcomes in pediatric patients.