How to Recognize a Stroke

Did you know? Stroke occurs in toddlers, children, and teens. Stroke is an emergency at any age!

Warning Signs

• F - face drooping

• A - arm weakness

• S - speech difficulty

• T - time to call 911

If one or more of these signs are present, don’t delay! Call 911 or the emergency system in your country!

• Additional Warning Signs in Children

• Severe sudden headache, especially with vomiting and sleepiness

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body [face, arm and/or leg]

• Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding others

• Sudden trouble seeing to one side or loss of vision

• New-onset of seizures usually on one side of the body If it looks like a stroke

Think Stroke – signs of stroke are often missed in children and teens because there is a lack of awareness that strokes can happen in this age group. About half of the children presenting with a stroke have a previously identified risk factor

Stroke is one of the top 10 causes of death in children. The use of tPA [a clot busting treatment] or clot retrieval devices are not FDA approved for use in children in the US.

Medical conditions associated with stroke include:

• Sickle Cell Disease,

• Moyamoya Syndrome,

• Arterial Dissection,

• Autoimmune Disorders,

• Congenital heart Disease,

• Blood Clotting Disorders

Learn more at iapediatricstroke.org and strokeassociation.org