STROKE IN IRAQI CHILDREN: EXPERIENCE OF CHILDREN WELFARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Background:Stroke in childhood is serious disorder about which little is published.
Objective:To determine demographic and presenting features of children with stroke.
Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted on cases of pediatric stroke admitted to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital during May 2008-August 2011. Cases classified radiologically into ischemic and hemorrhagic types. Basic data and clinical presentation were gathered.
Results:Sixty nine children (49 boys, 20 girls), aged 1 month-14 years were enrolled. Annual hospital admission rate was 54.2 /100000; boys:girls ratio was 2.5:1, girls were younger than boys. Ischemic stroke was found in 58% of cases. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke were younger than those with ischemic type. Those aged <1year account for 55.1% (82.8% of patients with hemorrhagic stroke) while half of those with ischemic type aged 1-5 years. The commonest presentation in both types was seizure, mostly among infants. About 2/3 of patients were from Baghdad.
Conclusion:Stroke in children is more common among boys. Ischemic type is commoner than hemorrhagic. Those with hemorrhagic stroke tend to be younger than ischemic. The majority of children with hemorrhagic type present at age younger than one year. Seizure was the most common presentation in both types.
Key words:Stroke; Iraqi children; Ischemic; Hemorrhagic