Pediatric Stroke
As many as 13 in 100,000 children suffer from a stroke. Stroke is more frequent in newborns and occurs in about 1 per 4,000 live births. Fifty percent of those infants and children will have serious, long-term neurological disabilities including:
- one-sided paralysis
- seizures
- speech, vision, behavioral, and learning difficulties
Children who have had a stroke frequently need long-term therapy and treatment with anticoagulant drugs, seizure and spasticity medications, orthotics, surgeries, and special education in school.
While strokes in children can be devastating, children have a better ability to heal than an adult. A child’s brain is still developing and may have a greater ability to repair itself. With the help of physical and speech therapy, most childhood stroke survivors recover use of their arms, legs, and speech.
WVU Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the state that can provide the most up-to-date care for children who have suffered a stroke. A team of pediatric neurologists is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Stroke Center at WVU Children’s Hospital is a JCAHO certified center. The WVU stroke team uses the latest treatment options to stop a stroke while it is happening, reduce the amount of damage to the brain, and, ultimately, ensure the greatest chance of survival for our patients.