Childhood Strokes – Dangerous and Underreported
We recently posted about the common practice of chiropractic manipulation on children and even infants raising disturbing questions about the possibility of causing vertebral artery tears and strokes in these tiny patients. Recent news from Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, published this November reports that strokes are occurring in younger patients at a much higher rate than previously believed. Strokes, once believed to afflict only older patients and extremely rare in children, are now believed to be a real danger.
The article reported that strokes in kids may be for times more common than previously believed. This may be due, according to Dr. Heather Fullerton of the University of California in San Francisco, the lead author of the study, to doctors who treat these patients ignoring or not recognizing the warning signs of stroke. In Canada, the study reports, as many as 6 to ten children out of every 100,000 may be the victim of stroke.
Stroke, in adults or children, can be caused by tearing of the arteries near the neck and brain. This can be caused by numerous kinds of neck injuries like accidents, rough play, or even from chiropractic adjustments. What is alarming is that the highest risk of stroke is to newborns under a month in age.
Knowing the warning signs for stroke in children and infants can be vital to saving brain function and even lives. In infants, seizures are one of the key symptoms of stroke. In older children, symptoms can be similar to those in adults including:
- headache
- trouble moving
- paralysis on one side
- slurred speech
- loss of vision
- confusion
Early recognition is the key to saving children and infants suffering from stroke. If you have made the decision to have your children seen and adjusted by chiropractors who manipulate the head and neck area, make sure to be on the lookout for these signs and symptoms. Noticing the symptoms quickly can make all the difference between a good and bad outcome. If you would like more information about children and strokes that can be caused by chiropractic manipulation, please contact Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones PLC.
