A family member of mine has high blood pressure, so I was researching the risks and strokes. What surprised me was the phrase "infant stroke." I knew that adults of a certain age were at risk, but it never occurred to me that children, or even infants, could also suffer from them.
Strokes in children are very different from those that strike adults. Boys are more likely to have strokes than girls are, and the reasons that children have strokes also differ from the reasons adults have them.
Infants can't tell us in words what is going on with them, so it's up to us to be aware of the symptoms in order to act as quickly as possible. Often, the symptoms are the same for both children and adults, but we may misinterpret them and end up misdiagnosing the problem.
Inability to move one side of the body is a huge indicator of infant stroke. However, this may be difficult to notice since they have not yet developed most motor skills. Facial drooping or inability to see out of one eye are more obvious, but may be subtle as well. If your baby's pupils are different sizes, there is a problem.
Another symptom you might overlook is greater than usual sleepiness. Infants usually sleep in short bursts, but those sleep patterns are averages rather than hard-and-fast rules. If you think your baby is sleeping more than usual, along with other symptoms, contact your pediatrician.
Seizures can indicate many health problems, but they can also indicate a stroke in infants. If your baby has a seizure, contact your pediatrician immediately. If the symptoms come on suddenly or your baby is in severe distress, get to the hospital.
Have you ever encountered a serious issue with your baby? Share your story below in the comments section.
Photo credit: Flickr