How to Spot Massive Stroke in Children; What Signs to Look Out For

Pediatric stroke can happen, and it is crucial to spot the signs to save a young one's life.

Chase Schweiger just got back from school and was preparing for his karate class when he saw his friends playing outside. He asked his mom to skip the karate class so he could play with them. His mom agreed, and it was a good call.

Chase's Mom, Wendi Schweiger, recalled that she heard one of his friends urging her son to get up. When she turned around, Chase was lying on the ground, just a few meters from her, Epoch Times reported.

She thought her son was kidding around, but then she saw drool coming out of the right side of his mouth. A neighbor quickly lifted Chase and dialed 911. Wendi later noticed Chase's face looked weird; he could not speak and only moaned. They also noted that Chase wasn't moving on the right side of his body. Those were telltale signs of stroke.

Chase was immediately transferred to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he got immediate treatment. The doctor noted a swelling in the brain; hence, they had to perform immediate surgery to remove a portion of the skull. Such intervention is meant to reduce brain swelling.

Chase survived the surgery, and their family has now become advocates for educating others on the signs of pediatric stroke.

Read Also: What Parents Need to Know About Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Children

What is Pediatric Stroke?

John Hopkins Hospital said pediatric stroke is a blood vessel disorder. It can be ischemic, caused by an insufficient blood flow in the brain, or hemorrhagic - bleeding into the brain. It is a rare condition affecting one of every 4,000 newborns and 2,000 older children yearly.

Strokes can be life-threatening, and it requires immediate medical intervention. It is one of the top causes of death among children, and it can also cause neurologic disabilities.

Signs to look out for:

The symptoms of pediatric stroke would depend on the age of the patient. 

According to Standford Children's Hospital, in newborns, parents and health professionals should watch out for:

•  Seizures
•  Extreme sleepiness
•  Tendency to move or use only one side of the body.

For younger children, guardians need to watch out for:

•  Trouble balancing or walking
•  Sudden lethargy or drowsiness
•  Severe headaches, possibly with vomiting
•  Trouble with vision
•  Sleepiness or loss of consciousness

What is FAST?

Chase's parents emphasize the acronym FAST to easily recognize the symptoms of a stroke. F.A.S.T. stands for:

F is for face drooping. One side of the face is drooping or numb. If the person tries to smile, the smile is uneven.

A is for Arm Weakness. An arm is weak or numb. When both arms are lifted simultaneously, one arm drifts down.

S is for Speech difficulty. You may notice that the child is suddenly having slurred speech or difficulty speaking. The child may have a problem repeating a sentence when asked.

T: Time to call 911. If someone shows any of these symptoms, they must call 911 immediately.

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