Home » Health & Wellness » Children's Disabilities » WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS - Page 2

WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS - Page 2

© Terrie-Lynn Daley

· Aspirin taken on a daily basis in small doses, as decided by the doctor, according to the weight of the child. Aspirin is being used more and more in treatment of strokes, but due to the risk of Reye's Syndrome in children, other anti-platelet medication may be prescribed in place of Aspirin for a pediatric patient.

· Heparin is used in the case of high risk for recurrence of a stroke, but only if there is a low risk of a secondary hemorrhage. It is as safe for children as it is for adults.

· There is little information available about Thrombolytic Agents, but favorable results in adults indicate the use of these can be adapted to suit a child.

· An ECMO (Extra membrane oxygenation procedure) is performed by a surgeon cutting and closing off a child's right carotid artery.

Prognosis for children who suffer a stroke is better than for an adult, possibly as the result of a child's immature brain having flexibility. But, unfortunately, some children, regardless how young they are, end up with a poor outcome after a stroke. There is a possibility that the developing brain of a young child can overtake any function loss as the result of a stroke. Children with seizures at the onset of a stroke have a more negative prognosis in the area of intellectual development and a higher occurrence of repeated seizures than those who have a stroke that is seizure free. Others will experience epilepsy, movement disorders, hyperactive behavior, and paralysis on one side of their body, learning disabilities, or mental retardation. Most children that experience paralysis on one side of their body will be able to walk, however.

Researching information about strokes has taught me an important lesson as a parent, and I hope my readers gain the same perception. A healthy child is something to be thankful for and appreciated. All too often, as we await the arrival of a new baby, many of us engage in wishful thinking for one gender over another. Strokes are untimely and do not discriminate between races, age, or economical background of a child or family. They can even occur prior to a child's birth, while an infant is inside the mother. One moment your child can be active, and at the blink of an eye, lay unconscience, awaking paralyzed or brain damaged. Enjoy your healthy child today, for you never know what tomorrow will bring.

The copyright of the article WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS - Page 2 in Children's Disabilities is owned by Terrie-Lynn Daley. Permission to republish WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.