Clinical, Laboratory and Neuroradiological Profile of Arterial Ischemic Stroke in Paediatric Patients

Background: Arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) is an increasingly recognized cause of significant morbidity in childhood and has personal, familial, economic and social consequences. Significant delays exist in the diagnosis of childhood stroke. Factors contributing to the delays include the low incidence, varying clinical presentations, limited access to urgent diagnostic neuroimaging, and poor awareness of childhood stroke among physicians and carers. An accurate diagnosis, with early differentiation between stroke and mimics, is crucial for early interventions that improve long-term outcomes. Neuroimaging is essential not only for diagnosis and decision-making for early intervention but also for later outcomes and the chance of recurrence, which can be predicted from a detailed neuroimaging profile. As a wide range of presumptive risk factors has been reported in association with childhood stroke, it is necessary to identify underlying associated abnormalities within a short period of time not only due to the early institution of treatment but also to prevent a recurrence. In Bangladesh, very few studies were done previously on pediatric stroke. Against this backdrop, this study was planned to observe the clinical, laboratory and neuroradiological profile of arterial ischemic stroke in paediatric patients. Aims of the study: To evaluate the clinical, laboratory and neuroradiological profile of arterial ischemic stroke in paediatric patients. Materials: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Pediatric Neurology, IPNA, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh without interrupting standard care practice in the department. The duration of the study was 18 months. Patients with sudden onset focal or global neurological disorders attending OPD and IPD of pediatric neurology were primarily enrolled for the study. Detailed history taking and clinical examination, including neurological examination, were done. Then, patients were assessed by brain MRI to ...