Childhood stroke : What are the special features of childhood stroke?

Childhood arterial ischemic stroke differs in essential aspects from adult stroke. It is rare, often relatively unknown among laypersons and physicians and the wide variety of age-specific differential diagnoses (stroke mimics) as well as less established care structures often lead to a considerable delay in the diagnosis of stroke. The possible treatment options in childhood are mostly off-label. Experiences in well-established acute treatment modalities in adult stroke, such as thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy are therefore limited in children and only based on case reports and case series. The etiological clarification is time-consuming due to the multitude of risk factors which must be considered. Identifying each child's individual risk profile is mandatory for acute treatment and secondary prevention strategies and has an influence on the individual outcome. In addition to the clinical neurological outcome the residual neurological effects of stroke on cognition and behavior are decisive for the integration of the child into its educational, later professional and social environment.