British researchers launch studies to increase understanding of childhood stroke

About five children a week have a stroke in Britain; in fact stroke is one of the 10 main causes of death in children.

Five per cent of children who have a stroke will die from it. Of those who survive, two thirds will have long term disability and the other third will have no lasting impairment.

Commenting on the nation's lack of awareness of the condition presenting in children, Dr Finbar O'Callaghan, Senior Clinical Lecturer in the Division of Child Health at Bristol University, said: "There is a striking lack of public and medical awareness of childhood stroke.

"We believe that childhood stroke may well be as common as childhood cancer and it is certainly equally devastating to families".

A new study of six million children, which Dr O'Callaghan is leading, aims to change this. The Study of Outcome of Childhood Stroke (SOCS) aims to establish accurately how many are affected and what impact it has on their health and families.

For many parents the big question is whether their child will go on to have a further stroke. Up to one in five children who have had a stroke go on to have recurrent strokes and about half of those who have a stroke have an underlying medical condition that increases their risk of having more.

The Institute of Child Health in London, funded by Action Medical Research, is developing a blood test that will predict who those children are.

Dr Vijeya Ganesan, the lead researcher on the project, said inflammation of blood vessels is a significant factor in why some children have recurrent stroke.

She added: "These children often react in an abnormal way to common infections such as sore throats or chickenpox. That can then trigger this inflammatory response in the blood vessels.

"We can then treat them with steroids or a combination of drugs which suppress the immune system and prevent more strokes occurring".

Dr O'Callaghan's study is also looking at how children function after a stroke. He explained: "As well as examining how the child is able to walk and use their hands, we are analysing cognitive function, memory, quality of life and the degree to which a child is able to participate in everyday life".

The study will log what services are available, as many parents report a lack of care and support.

Dr O'Callaghan said: "We are hoping to help put childhood stroke on the map so that parents will get the support they need to access the appropriate services".