Childhood arterial ischemic stroke in Senegal (West Africa)

Etiological factors of childhood ischemic stroke depend on the epidemiological context. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors, the clinical and radiologic features, and the outcome of arterial ischemic stroke in a case series of Senegalese children. We carried out a retrospective registry-based study on arterial ischemic stroke in children hospitalized in the neurology department of Fann Teaching Hospital and Albert Royer Children's Hospital, from January 2005 to December 2015. We enrolled 116 cases with an age range from 2 months to 18 years. The mean age at stroke occurrence was 71.5 months. The most common manifestations were hemiparesis (84%), aphasia (19%), and partial motor seizures (10%). The middle cerebral artery was the most affected (81%). Risk factors were predominantly sickle cell disease (38%), embolic heart disease (9%), and anemia (3%). Twenty-eight percent of patients were lost to follow-up, 62% had neurological impairments, and 4% died. Secondary prevention was based on antithrombotic agents. Prevention must be prioritized and public health actions need to focus on sickle cell disease, rheumatismal disease, anemia, and related disorders. It will be necessary to set up policies that fight against consanguineous marriage, endemic infections, and argue for better nutrition.