Abstract

Introduction: Stroke, defined as the sudden occlusion or rupture of cerebral arteries or veins resulting in focal cerebral damage or neurological deficits in children, differs in clinical presentation, etiology and neuroimaging from adults.

Material and Methods: This hospital based observational study aimed to assess the clinical etiological patterns and neuroimaging profile of childhood stroke evaluated 75 pediatric stroke patients between the ages of 6 months to 18 years.

Results: Early childhood is the most common period for stroke, males are affected more predominantly. CNS infection was found the most common cause of stroke, CNS T.B being the most common. Hemiplegia was the most common presentation of stroke and AIS being most common type of stroke. Causes of stroke in children are varied and differ from those seen in adults.

Conclusion: Even after many decades of initial studies, not much information is available on this aspect in India. Adequate identification and determination of etiology is absolutely necessary as stroke can be prevented in some children and treated in others. With the help of newer diagnostic facilities, probability of finding an etiology of stroke is increased for infectious and non-infectious causes.

Keywords: Pediatric stroke; Neuroimaging; Hemiplegia; AIS; CSVT; Hemorrhagic stroke; Moya-Moya disease