Schoolchildren are opting for healthier options in a U.S. school cafeteria. (Photo : Reuters)
Stroke in kids is a rare thing, however if the child has cold, minor infections or flu that it might trigger stroke in children. A study published in the medical journal of American Academy of Neurology revealed that regular vaccines can decrease stroke risks in kids.
Dr. Heather J. Fullerton, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco, is the lead author of the study and Fullerton stated that they are trying to build awareness that stroke in kids is quite possible.
Fullerton talked to Reuters Health and revealed that the risk is higher in kids who have sickle cell disease or congenital heart disease.
The study involved interviews of parents of 355 children under 18 diagnosed with a stroke and 354 children with no stroke history.
José Biller of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago stated that the overall risk of stroke in kids is "still extremely low."
"It is possible that changes in the body as a result of these infections, such as inflammation and dehydration could tip the balance in a child who is already at a higher risk for stroke. Parents should not be alarmed if their child has a cold that it will lead to a stroke," said Biller.
According to the study, 18 percent of kids diagnosed with stroke suffered from infection the week prior to the stroke and only three percent of the kids had an infection but did not have stroke.
Kids who were not properly vaccinated were placed at higher risk of stroke compared to those who were regularly vaccinated.
"If our results hold up in further studies, controlling infections like colds and flu through hand-washing and vaccines may be a strategy for preventing stroke in children," Fullerton stated.
