Almost half of childhood stroke cases caused by head injuries

Almost half of childhood stroke cases caused by head injuries

By Hu Jielan and Shahidah Adriana
POSTED: 20 Dec 2013 17:37

Teenagers, children and even foetuses can suffer from stroke. KK Women's and Children's Hospital sees less than 20 cases of the condition each year, and almost half of them are caused by head injuries.

SINGAPORE: Teenagers, children and even foetuses can suffer from stroke.

Cases of childhood stroke in Singapore are rare.

KK Women's and Children's Hospital sees less than 20 cases of the condition each year.

Almost half of them are caused by head injuries.

Dr Christelle Chow from Department of Paediatrics’ Neurology Service at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital said: "The problems that children can face after they develop a stroke can be difficulty in moving around, in their activities of daily living, and keeping up with their peers in school."

The hospital said three out of 100,000 children in Singapore may suffer from stroke.

Inflammation or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the brain could also be the cause of childhood stroke.

Mr Ng's son suffered from stroke when he was 14.

Mr Ng thought he was having normal headaches in school, but his son lost control of the left side of his body.

He was rushed to the hospital, where they diagnosed him with childhood stroke.

Mr Ng saw significant improvement in his son's condition after two years of intensive treatment.

Mr Ng said: "If any normal person looks at him, he looks normal and he is doing everything that he is doing, yes. The only thing he has to be very careful with, is he is still on a certain medicine to thin his blood, to control the blood."

- CNA/gn

- wong chee tat :)