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Infection in childhood increases the likelihood of a stroke
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Experts warn that minor children's infections (colds, flu) can for a short time (an average of three days) increase the likelihood of a stroke in a child. However, in this case, the predisposition to a stroke is not excluded. The cause of the disease is an acute inflammatory process in the arteries. The immunity of a person to any infection responds by inflammation. In addition, the infection promotes the active work of platelets, which increases the risk of blood clots.
At the same time, researchers note that several infectious processes or an infectious disease in a chronic form did not increase the likelihood of stroke in childhood.
Particular care must be taken in children who suffer from heart disease, lupus, or hereditary disorders of hemoglobin synthesis. But a stroke can also occur in a perfectly healthy child. The death rate from strokes in childhood is about 10%. Children have a large mass of the brain, in contrast to adults, so the place for edema after a stroke in a child is less. A frequent cause of death from a stroke is precisely edema and increased intracranial pressure.
In this case, experts note that the survivors of stroke in the future have a greater risk of complications. Experts came to such conclusions after careful analysis of information on more than two million children. Among all studied, about 100 children were found to block blood flow (ischemic stroke), the data of which were compared with the control group of children. As a result, it was found that children who suffered a stroke often received treatment for minor infectious diseases. 80% of infections affected the upper respiratory tract.
To determine the attack of a stroke it is possible for headaches, seizures similar to epileptic seizures, speech, vision, coordination of movements, weakness of one part of the body.
In addition, the researchers found that therapy with a lack of growth hormone in children increases the likelihood of stroke in adulthood.
With a shortage of growth hormone, drugs that accelerate growth and puberty are often used. Such treatment has its side effects - headaches, joint and muscle pains, fluid stagnation. Also recently, the risk of developing a stroke has added to the list of adverse reactions, however, for a 100% confirmation, a number of other studies are required.
In a long-term research project, about seven thousand people born before 1990 took part. From 1985 to 1996, participants underwent hormone growth therapy. The specialists studied the data of the participants, who during the whole treatment conducted the questionnaires, as well as records in the medical maps of 2008-2010.
From the beginning of therapy to the last medical examination was an interval of about 17 years, on average, the duration of treatment was about 4 years.
As a result, 11 participants had a stroke at a fairly young age (about 24 years), 8 had a hemorrhagic stroke with a ruptured artery in the brain, and 3 had an ischemic stroke. Patients from Dijon, Oxford, France, Great Britain were also compared, which confirmed the relationship between hormonal therapy and the risk of stroke.
Experts say that before starting treatment with growth hormone, a specialist should take into account the identified relationship and decide on the need for such treatment. When appointing a patient, it is necessary to inform about possible risks, signs of stroke and preventive measures.
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