"This disease, traditionally considered an adult ailment, is appearing more frequently in young people. Its manifestations are often unclear, but its progression is sudden and exceptionally dangerous," stated Doctor Nguyen Van Tuyen, Director of the Institute of Neurology and Head of the Cerebral Stroke Department, Military Hospital 108, on the afternoon of 5/12.

A notable case involved an 8-year-old boy from Hanoi, whose stroke shocked both his family and medical professionals. While studying, the boy suddenly collapsed at his desk, experiencing weakness on the left side of his body – a symptom indicative of a transient ischemic attack. Fortunately, his teachers and friends quickly noticed, informing his family to bring him to the hospital.

Scans revealed the boy suffered a cerebral infarction due to a right middle cerebral artery dissection, a rare condition in children. The patient received emergency intervention, including balloon angioplasty and stenting, to restore blood flow. Thanks to early admission to the hospital, he has recovered almost completely, with no lasting neurological sequelae.

A 14-year-old patient with cerebral hemorrhage, showing signs of transient headaches. Photo: Mai Hang

A 14-year-old patient with cerebral hemorrhage, showing signs of transient headaches. Photo: Mai Hang

Another case involved a 14-year-old girl from Ha Nam. Ten days before her hospital admission, she experienced a severe headache and fainted at her commune health center. Although medication temporarily normalized her condition, the headache returned. Initially, her family believed she had a common cold but still took her to the hospital for examination. A brain scan revealed a small cerebral hemorrhage caused by a ruptured arteriovenous malformation in the right temporal region. Doctors at the Institute of Neurology successfully performed embolization of the malformation and pseudoaneurysm, leading to her full recovery.

"I never imagined my child had a brain hemorrhage because she was completely healthy before. I hope parents do not take it lightly when their children experience headaches or unusual symptoms," her mother shared.

Treating stroke in children is significantly more challenging than in adults. Children's vascular systems are small and fragile, requiring absolute precision when introducing instruments into the vessels. The Institute of Neurology is currently treating four pediatric patients aged 8-16, a concerning trend highlighting the "juvenilization" of this disease.

Doctor Tuyen explained that stroke in children is still considered rare, but in recent years, the rate of young patients, under 45 years old, suffering strokes is increasing. In 2025, approximately 10-15% of patients treated in the Cerebral Stroke Department are young people, with the main causes being cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage.

In children, the mechanism causing cerebral infarction is less related to atherosclerosis, unlike in adults. Instead, it often stems from arterial dissection, a condition that accounts for about 30-50% of cases and progresses very dangerously. Arterial dissection can occur when children play, run, jump, experience collisions, or forcefully turn their necks, causing damage to the endothelial layer, or due to vasculitis.

Doctor Tuyen examines the 8-year-old patient. Photo: Mai Hang

Doctor Tuyen examines the 8-year-old patient. Photo: Mai Hang

Stroke, at any age, is a race against time. Every minute, every second that passes, billions of nerve cells are irreversibly damaged. International recommendations indicate that treatment with thrombolytic drugs is effective within the first 3-4,5 hours, while mechanical thrombectomy is typically performed within 6 hours. However, doctors emphasize that families should not wait or rely on these "golden hours" to delay bringing a child to the hospital. The later a child arrives, the lower the chances of survival and recovery.

A worrying aspect is that stroke in children is often overlooked because symptoms are not typical, and children find it difficult to describe their sensations. Signs such as severe headaches, limb weakness, blurred vision, difficulty speaking, seizures, or sudden collapse, even if mild, require close monitoring. In many cases, parents believe their child is simply tired, dizzy from studying, or has a normal flu, leading to missed critical time for treatment.

According to Doctor Nguyen Van Cuong, from the Neurovascular Intervention Department, there is currently no absolute prevention method for stroke in children because the causes are often unclear. Early detection is the key to minimizing damage and protecting lives. Stroke can occur at any age, so the vigilance of family, teachers, and the community is a decisive factor in effective diagnosis and treatment.

Le Nga