Does a stroke happen in children and how does it differ from an adult pathology? Stroke in childhood: features of the disease in children and treatment Microstroke in newborns.

Smirnova Olga Leonidovna

Neurologist, education: First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov. Work experience 20 years.

Articles written

To an unprepared person, it may seem that a stroke in children cannot occur, since it is traditionally believed that this disease is associated with age. But children have a stroke, albeit very rarely, so it is imperative to know the causes that cause it. This disease can be secretive, especially in, and its manifestations are dangerous for the health and life of the crumbs.

There are two types of stroke:

• ischemic associated with the brain. With it, the vessel is tightly clogged with a blood clot - a thrombus, which prevents the movement of blood and causes circulatory disorders, oxygen deficiency of brain tissues. If this condition continues for a long time, the affected area of ​​the medulla may die. Because of this, they can affect any organ (system) human body which was controlled by the affected part of the brain;
• hemorrhagic, caused by hemorrhage. The ruptured vessel releases into the medulla a large number of blood that clots and forms a clot - a hematoma. It puts pressure on a vast area of ​​the brain, which can lead to very serious consequences - from paralysis and complete immobility to the death of the patient. The severity of the injury depends on which part of the brain is affected by the stroke.

Children mostly suffer from the first form of the disease, that is, from a. This is a relatively milder form of the disease, since hemorrhagic stroke is more common in older people, causing many times more health-threatening consequences. It is this form of the disease that is the main cause of death.

Causes of occurrence in childhood

The main reason for the development of a stroke in a child is a violation of cerebral circulation. It can manifest itself at different ages, so childhood stroke is divided into the following age groups:

1. Intrauterine, or perinatal.
2. Neonatal stroke.
3. Disease of adolescents under the age of 18 years.

In the first two groups, the frequency of diagnosing the disease is one case per 4 thousand children. In the third group, the incidence of the disease drops sharply, to one in 100,000 teenagers.

The severity of the disease and the level of danger of its consequences for health depend on which part of the child’s brain the stroke occurred, and on its form.

The hemorrhagic form is rare, most often it is provoked by a traumatic brain injury during a blow or a very difficult birth. It is associated with a violation of the integrity of the vessel and outpouring of blood, which leads to the formation of a hematoma.

Most common causes capable of causing:

• (thinning and protrusion of the vessel wall, threatening its perforation);
• high blood pressure;
• presence - or malignant;
• intoxication;
• blood diseases (acute leukemia, hemophilia (genetically determined bleeding disorder, aplastic anemia, hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell anemia);
• alcoholism or drug addiction of the mother during gestation.

The following reasons lead to the development of ischemic stroke, which is also called cerebral infarction, in children:

• during fetal development and at the time of birth;
• cerebral vasculitis, which is especially susceptible to children suffering from autoimmune diseases;
• anomalies of structure and functioning vascular system;
• Congenital heart defect;
• surgery to install an artificial heart valve;
• diabetes;
• chicken pox;
• high blood pressure in the mother during pregnancy with swelling of the lower extremities;
• abuse of pregnant alcohol, medicines or drugs, smoking;
• detachment of the placenta, which caused oxygen starvation of the fetus;
• discharge of amniotic fluid with a late onset of labor (more than 24 hours).

All of these conditions can cause a child to be born with a stroke, or develop one early in life. Adolescents are more likely to suffer from strokes, manifested due to very high physical or emotional stress, as well as due to brain injury, diseases.

How symptoms appear

Signs of a stroke in children born with it may go unnoticed due to their lack of expression, blurring in a very young child. Such a baby may not differ in any way from his peers, he will just develop a little more slowly.

More severe damage from intrauterine damage leads to convulsions, appetite disorders, slight or severe developmental delay, breathing problems, which can be expressed in apnea - a short-term cessation of breathing, especially dangerous during sleep.

Symptoms in adolescents are more pronounced. They are manifested by paralysis, confusion of speech, weakness, impaired correctness of movements, decreased concentration and learning, headaches and dizziness, therefore, they immediately attract the attention of parents. Often such children become more emotional, quickly lose their temper, get angry and cry, and are less likely to be withdrawn and distant. It is very important not to leave your child alone with the problem, you need to communicate with him a lot, support him and stimulate the desire to recover.

Potential health hazard

The onset of a stroke can be sudden and can seriously threaten a child's health and life. If the following symptoms appear, you should urgently call an ambulance:

1. Severe or persistent headaches, especially those accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
2. Concentration disorders, absent-mindedness, disorientation.
3. Problems with or its complete loss.
4. Slurred, "connected" speech.
5. Respiratory disorders.
6. Swallowing problems.
7. Impaired mobility of half of the body, if one half of the brain is affected.
8. Seizures.
9. Paralysis.

These are very dangerous symptoms, and the salvation of the child largely depends on prompt response to them and delivery to a medical institution. Children's stroke can threaten the following consequences:

• cerebral paralysis;
• mental and physical retardation;
• violations of motor function;
• complications in vision and hearing;
• psychological disorders;
• difficulties with the socialization of the child.

The treatment of babies and adolescents with cerebrovascular accidents can be dealt with by various medical specialists, not only those related to problems of brain activity. Such a child will need classes with a speech therapist, physiotherapists, psychologists and representatives of other medical specialties.

Treatment

In the hemorrhagic form, treatment primarily consists in removing the blood clot and stopping the bleeding. This can be done exclusively by the operational method and as quickly as possible, since the hematoma presses on parts of the brain and provokes further health problems. After the surgical intervention, doctors take measures to control the breathing of a small patient, monitor the level blood pressure and body temperature.

To complete therapy, the patient is prescribed a set of medications designed to solve various problems: to level the risk of developing an infection, to normalize blood circulation, to strengthen the body, to stimulate the immune system. Preparations are selected exclusively by a specialized specialist, and the duration of treatment depends on the severity of the patient's condition.

After undergoing surgical treatment, the child will need restorative therapy. During this period, parents and relatives of the baby will need to show maximum attention, support and approve all the achievements of the child in every possible way. Even in very severe cases, young children have a good chance of a full recovery.

In ischemic stroke, treatment is mainly medication, aimed at resorption of the thrombus and. Patients are prescribed drugs that prevent increased blood clotting, as well as prescribe nootropic drugs, supportive and strengthening therapy. It is very important to deal with a child, and not just treat him with medication. In the presence of physical problems, modern hardware methods also come to the rescue, speech disorders are restored by special classes.

The baby's body needs to be strengthened and tempered, to ensure the correct healthy eating, more byvat with him in the fresh air. But the most important thing is to love and support him, not to give up even in very difficult and difficult situations. Modern medicine is developing and finding new ways to restore health to such patients.

Despite its obvious fragility, the body of a small person grows and develops, and the forces inherent in it by nature are enough to cope with the most serious diseases. The goal of doctors and relatives of the baby is to help him resist a complex illness and defeat it.

The conventional wisdom that stroke is a purely “adult” disease is fundamentally wrong. Stroke in children is not uncommon. What is even worse - often the disease affects newborns. Of course, older people after 65 years of age still suffer to a greater extent from impaired blood supply to the brain. If we consider the statistics on childhood morbidity, the picture is as follows: 6 cases per 100,000 children. In addition, it should be noted that the clinical picture and the first signs of stroke in young children will be somewhat different from adult manifestations.

Timely flow of blood to the brain guarantees the normal functioning of both the organ itself and the body as a whole. If its blood supply is disturbed, then a stroke occurs. The brain is deprived of oxygen and essential nutrients, which causes damage to its tissues. The classification of hemorrhages in the brain area in children will directly depend on the specified evaluation criteria. So, based on the age of the baby, they distinguish:

• fetal stroke (in the prenatal period);
• perinatal (occurring from the 28th gestational week to the month of the baby's life);
• children's stroke (manifested in the period from the 29th day of a child's life to his adulthood).

According to the type of origin, cerebral stroke in children is divided into:

• ischemic;
• hemorrhagic.

Ischemic stroke in a child occurs due to blockage of a cerebral vessel by a blood clot (ischemia). A clot can form in any of the vessels of the body and, through the bloodstream, enter the vascular system of the brain. Ischemic stroke in children can also be thrombotic, non-thrombotic and embolic.

Hemorrhagic stroke in young children occurs due to a rupture of a blood vessel, due to which large volumes of blood begin to accumulate under the membrane of the brain or directly in its substance. This provokes excessive pressure on nearby tissues and leads to a violation of their functions. It is parenchymal, subarachnoid, subdural and epidural.

Causes

As already mentioned, hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by rupture of the vessel. Why does this problem occur in children? There are several factors and reasons for this:

• tumor;
• aneurysm;
• high blood pressure;
• traumatic brain injury;
• beriberi or intoxication;
• blood diseases (hemophilia, leukemia);
• drug or alcohol addiction of the mother.

In the case of ischemic stroke, a blood clot clogs the vessel, which leads to a heart attack. The formation of such blood clots can contribute to:

• diabetes;
• cerebral vasculitis;
• Congenital heart defect;
• bacterial endocarditis;
• prosthetic heart valves;
• anomalies of veins, arteries and capillaries;
• infectious diseases (chickenpox, meningitis and others).

Occasionally, ischemic stroke in a child is preceded by problems of the mother during pregnancy. As a rule, we are talking about stable high pressure, detachment of the placenta, interrupting the supply of oxygen to the fetus or early discharge of water (one day before delivery). As for adolescents, they may have an ischemic stroke due to the use of amphetamines, cocaine, or due to poisoning with maninil or isoniazid.

Symptoms

Stroke in children has the same symptoms as in adults. That is, there is a clouding of consciousness, vision worsens, weakness suddenly arises and speech becomes slurred. However, diagnosing the condition and identifying symptoms in infants is often difficult, since they are not able to describe their condition, and relatives rarely focus on the appearance of neurological manifestations in the baby. As for children from 1 to 4 years old, their first signs of a stroke may also be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• apnea;
• lack of appetite;
• cramps of the limbs;
• delayed physical development.

In older children, there is a decrease in concentration of attention and paralysis of one of the limbs is possible, which then spreads to the whole body. There is also a connection with the hemisphere of the brain in which the hemorrhage occurred, so the symptoms may change. With damage to the right hemisphere, the movements of the left side of the body become more complicated and the child often has problems with fastening buttons on this side of the clothes. In addition, the baby loses the ability to adequately assess the position and size of objects. If hurt left hemisphere, it is difficult for the child to speak, since this area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe brain is responsible for speech and language. Sharpness and clumsiness of movements of the right side of the body are also noted.

Dizziness or severe headache as a symptom of a stroke in children

Particular attention should be paid to the following symptoms in children:

• memory loss;
• swallowing problems;
• unilateral paralysis;
• a sharp deterioration in vision;
• difficulty in pronunciation of words and in the perception of speech;
• dizziness, problems with spatial orientation;
• severe headache, often accompanied by vomiting.

If a child has at least one of these symptoms, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Diagnostics

The most important period when medical assistance is most effective is the first 3 hours after the onset of symptoms of a stroke. If you suspect a stroke, you need to do the following:

• evaluate the symmetry and naturalness of the baby's smile;
• ask the child to raise his hands up - this is how weakness of one of the limbs is revealed;
• say any phrase and ask the baby to repeat what he heard: this is how speech and memory disorders are determined.

If a crooked smile, movement and speech disturbances are found, then most likely the child has a stroke and needs to be urgently hospitalized. In a hospital setting, to confirm the diagnosis, the baby can be assigned the following types of diagnostics:

• brain MRI;
• radiography;
• echoencephalography;
• dopplerography of vessels;
• laboratory tests of urine and blood.

First aid

Before the ambulance arrives, you need to be able to provide the child with first aid. First of all, you need to lay him on his back, placing a high pillow under his head (to avoid the development or progression of cerebral edema). Next, you should remove all restrictive clothing from the baby (unfasten the collar, belt, belt).

Then open a window or window for a better flow of fresh air. In case of vomiting, you need to turn the child's head to the sides and clear the mouth of mucus and vomit. If the baby has stopped breathing (with a massive stroke), it is necessary to start resuscitation.

Treatment

After the first symptoms of a stroke are detected in a child, treatment is necessary (in the first 3-6 hours), due to the very rapid damage to brain cells.
After all, with their massive defeat, the consequences are often already irreversible. First of all, doctors identify the type and cause of a stroke, after which they eliminate the most dangerous symptoms that provoke the progression of a stroke (cerebral edema, high blood pressure, problems in the heart).

With a strong pain syndrome, painkillers are administered, anticonvulsants - with an intense convulsive syndrome, antioxidants and nootropics to restore neurons. Further specific treatment will directly depend on the type of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). After stabilization of the patient's condition, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage, work with a speech therapist and psychologist are introduced, and complications are also prevented.

Complications and consequences

The consequences of such a blow in childhood can be quite severe. So, in the future it is possible:

• development of cerebral palsy;
• paralysis and paresis;
• loss of sight and hearing;
• mental retardation;
• persistent speech disorders;
• problems in the work of the pelvic organs;
• the formation of mental retardation;
• persistent deviations in coordination of movements;
• psychological problems (changes in mood, behavior, character).

Timely diagnosis and therapy for childhood strokes contributes to the gradual restoration of brain functions and minimization of the consequences of this pathology.

A significant role in this process is played by the attitude and moral support of parents, as well as the passage of a full course of rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation

Recovery activities in children should begin as early as possible. Therefore, after assessing all neurological problems and the severity of the condition of a small patient, they consider the possibility of conducting an early rehabilitation course. Such activities are carried out according to an individual plan, initially in specialized agencies and then at home. In parallel with this, parents are initiated into all the nuances of the recovery program so that they can provide psychological support to the child at all its stages.

If a child has a stroke, then this indicates that he is suffering from an acute circulatory disorder in the brain. In this case, one of the main organs of the human body does not receive the required amount of useful components, which is why its work is completely disrupted. As a rule, you can recognize the problem by some symptoms.

Children's stroke

Before a stroke, any person has a disruption of the central nervous system. However, there are other signs by which you can determine that the child may face a similar problem in the future. The fact is that in children a similar ailment manifests itself a little differently.

You also need to be prepared to take emergency measures to help the baby. It should be borne in mind that today stroke in children, the causes of which can be very different, is becoming more common. Usually this is due to poor nutrition and ecology. Therefore, it is important to monitor the work of the cardiovascular system of the baby.

If a child has a stroke, then in this case we are talking about an acute circulatory disorder, because of which the baby has serious problems with nervous system. Based on this, there are several varieties of this unpleasant condition.

Hemorrhagic

This type of stroke occurs most often in young children. implies a rupture of blood vessels with their subsequent hemorrhage into neighboring tissues. Because of this, a hematoma appears, which presses on the tissues.

In this condition, the death of neurons often occurs. And if the blood breaks into the ventricles of the brain, then in this case the cavity is filled with blood.

Ischemic

This type of stroke in a child is much less common. In this case, we are talking about blockage of the vessel or its reduction. Against the background of such a problem, the work of neurons is disrupted or their work completely stops. At the first stage of ischemic stroke in children, the exchange of electrolytes stops. This leads to a stop in the transmission of nerve impulses. Accordingly, nerve cells cease to perform their main function. If the child suffers from a lack of blood circulation, then this leads to oxygen starvation and to the fact that the baby's brain does not receive nutrients. Since the remains of the decay products are not excreted from the body, this leads to the so-called cell poisoning. It is at this moment that cerebral ischemia occurs.

Within 3 minutes, it can happen that the neurons of the brain can completely die. If there is a death of a whole group of cells, then this phenomenon is called necrosis. In addition to neurons, nerve cells that are too close to the affected areas can also be affected in this process.

However, most often with such a stroke in a child, the cells do not die, but completely stop conducting nerve impulses.

intrauterine or perinatal

From this stroke, the baby can suffer even before he is born. However, complications of this phenomenon can harm the entire subsequent life of the child. Most often this happens with premature babies. These children are often diagnosed with a developmental disorder. In some situations, paralysis is observed.

If the child was born much ahead of time, then in this case there is a high risk of mental disorders from which he will suffer in the future. In addition, speaking about this type of stroke, you should pay attention to the weight of the baby. If he was born very small (less than 1 kg), then with one hundred percent probability it can be assumed that he had a stroke in the womb.

Also, such a nuisance can occur if intoxication of the body has been recorded. This can happen if the mother leads the wrong way of life when she is in position. If a woman drinks alcohol, smokes or even uses drugs, then there is a high risk of getting intoxicated and harming the unborn baby.

From this type of stroke are not insured, and those who are taking medication. You also need to be careful ladies who, in the course of their work, are in close proximity to toxins. They also have a destructive effect on the fetus.

Juvenile

Similar strokes happen to children aged from 1 month to 18 years. In this case, there are some differences from the perinatal variety. In this situation, not only a lack of oxygen can provoke such a condition in a baby. There could be many more reasons.

How is a child's stroke different from an adult's?

If we talk about distinguishing features of this pathology, then first of all it is worth paying attention to the fact that, if we are talking about babies, then most often parents note neurological problems. In adults, the lesions usually affect the brain.

It should be noted that a stroke in children under one year, as a rule, does not have obvious manifestations. It is because of this that it is almost impossible to diagnose pathology. At an older age in children, the signs of a stroke are also mild. Sometimes brain damage becomes a consequence of a microstroke or heart attack. In this case, the symptoms in the child will also be mild.

In order to cure the child and protect against problems in the future, completely different methods of treatment will be required. In this case, the same therapy that is used for adults will not work.

It often happens that children have much more serious complications. On the other hand, in childhood, brain neurons work much better than in adults. With a slight tissue damage, you can count on a fairly quick recovery. However, it all depends on numerous factors.

Causes of stroke in children

If we talk about adults, then most often they face such a problem against the background of atherosclerosis of the arteries or high blood pressure. In children, the occurrence of a stroke is due to completely different reasons. In this case, there are many options. For example, if we are talking about a hemorrhagic stroke in a child, then doctors most often suspect injury to the blood vessels in the head. This could happen while still in the womb or during childbirth if the baby was injured. In rare situations, babies get injured cervical regions spine during birth.

Also, hemorrhagic stroke can develop against the background of:

• arterial aneurysm.
• Vitamin deficiency (especially ascorbic acid).
• Intoxication of the brain against the background of various infections or under the influence of toxins.
• Brain tumor.
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs if the mother does not follow her lifestyle during pregnancy.
• Pathologies of the hematopoietic system.
• Reduced blood clotting.
• Blood cancer.
• Violations of the synthesis of hemoglobin.
• Anemia and other pathologies.

If we are talking about ischemic stroke in a child, then in this case this can happen against the background of:

• Various infections (chickenpox, meningitis, encephalitis, etc.).
• Congenital cardiac pathologies.
• Infections of the vascular system.
• Endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, deformation of blood vessels and other ailments).

If a stroke occurred in a child in the perinatal or completely young age, then in this case it is worth paying attention to the pathologies that the mother could have. While carrying the baby, she could suffer from swelling of the legs, prenatal waste of amniotic fluid and difficult labor.

Why strokes happen in older children

If we are talking about problems of this kind in adolescents, then most often they occur against the background of thrombocytosis. This means that the boy or girl has too high blood clotting. According to the latest medical statistics, up to 50% of adolescents under 18 are already acquiring all sorts of blood pathologies, which can lead to a stroke.

Symptoms of a stroke in children

There are several signs that you need to pay attention to. For example, if a child has strabismus or moves their eyes too fast, this may be the first sign of a stroke. It is also worth paying attention to whether he suffers from unstable body temperature, trembling of the limbs, convulsions, hypertonicity or vice versa muscle hypotonicity, disorders of autonomic functions in the body, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, and hearing problems.

Also, children often experience severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness. If we are talking about a baby, then identifying the pathology is much more difficult, but in this case it is worth paying attention to a few points.

If the baby constantly strains the facial muscles, often cries, changes his voice or reacts sharply to small stimuli (sound, light, etc.), strongly strains the occipital muscles, this means that you need to be more attentive to his condition.

Diagnostics

First of all, you need to pay attention to the behavior of the child. If he seems strange to parents, you need to ask him to say a phrase, smile or perform some action (for example, touch his nose). If this causes problems for him, then you should immediately contact a specialist who will conduct an appropriate study.

First, a general blood test is performed. If we are talking about a hemorrhagic stroke, then in this case the level of leukocytes will be increased. After that, a coagulogram is performed. Thanks to the data obtained, it will be possible to clarify whether the baby has problems with blood clotting. Additionally, a lumbar puncture may be required.

An MRI of the child's brain is also performed. Based on the data obtained, the specialist will be able to confirm or refute the diagnosis without any problems. Additionally, a CT scan may be performed. However, such studies are not available in all regions. Therefore, more often parents can only rely on an MRI of the child's brain.

How to help a baby

If parents have noted at least one sign of a stroke in a child, then you should immediately contact an emergency doctor. However, even before their arrival, it is very important to provide first aid for a stroke at home. To do this, you need to perform a number of activities that will help improve the condition of the baby.

First, he must be laid face up on the bed and his legs bent at the knees. You should also raise the baby's head. You need to open windows, unbutton clothes and provide the child with fresh air. If the baby begins to vomit, then it is necessary to immediately turn his head to the side so that he does not choke.

Before the arrival of doctors, first aid for a stroke at home includes preparation for resuscitation. To do this, it is recommended to remove all metal objects from it and wait for the arrival of doctors.

Treatment

If we are talking about a childhood stroke, then in this case it is not necessary to count on a quick deliverance from the pathology. The first time after the attack, the child is forced to spend in intensive care, only after that he will be transferred to the neurological department.

In order to quickly recover from the disease, it is recommended to undergo recovery in a special rehabilitation center. It is best to do this in large cities of the Russian Federation. Since in such institutions there is all the necessary equipment. After the child undergoes rehabilitation after a stroke in Moscow or another city, he becomes registered with a pediatrician and a neurologist.

Methods of therapy directly depend on the specific type of stroke. For example, if we are talking about an ischemic attack, then thrombolytic therapy is often performed in this case. Hemorrhagic stroke requires the use of hemostatic drugs.

Consequences

If a child suffers from an attack, then there is a high probability that he may die or at least remain disabled. 10% of children who have had a stroke need daily care from their parents. Even if the baby underwent rehabilitation after a stroke in Moscow or any other city, there is always a risk of relapse.

There is a risk that the baby will have neurological problems. He may have problems with hearing, vision, motor activity, etc. Often, babies develop cerebral palsy.

A microstroke is characterized as a sharp disturbance in the blood circulation of the brain. Symptoms disappear immediately or within a day. The main cause of the disease is a violation of the state of the blood vessels of the brain due to many reasons. A blood clot or a sharp spasm can become a direct impetus.

A microstroke is such a disease when it is impossible to say for sure how it will affect a person's later life. Maybe everything will work out, or maybe you will have to apply for disability.

Microstroke: symptoms and consequences

It is difficult to notice and therefore prevent. This is why a microstroke is dangerous, the consequences and symptoms of which everyone should know. Most often on headache, which is the main symptom, do not pay attention. At this time, the brain cells become numb. If you do not detect a microstroke, the consequences and treatment will be very serious. However, it can happen at any age. This must be treated with caution.

Microstroke: consequences

A variant is likely when externally no consequences are visible. However, in fact, they will be damaged, which can lead to death or significant complications in human life and health. Decreased performance and mental activity. A microstroke has different consequences. The concentration of speech and attention is disturbed, memory worsens, decreases mental disorders, sudden aggression, irritability appear, dementia may begin to develop. Similar consequences most often occur in older people who have experienced a microstroke. Within 72 hours, a disease such as a severe ischemic stroke with serious consequences may well develop.

Microstroke: consequences in children

Today, this disease has become common even in children and adolescents. In this case, this is mainly due to malnutrition, which awakens obesity, diabetes and other endocrine disorders of the body. If microstrokes occur in newborns, then these are often the consequences of congenital heart defects or possible ones. Previously, children with such diagnoses died, but now, with the right treatment, it is possible to extend their life as much as possible, and if you pay special attention to the physical, then the guys will not lag behind their peers. But in the absence proper treatment and care, the consequences of this disease will be manifested throughout life. Microstroke in children of adolescence and school age quite often it is a consequence of the initially incorrect structure of some vessels of the brain. It can also be provoked by inflammatory processes in the walls of blood vessels, as well as recently common diseases and conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and congenital heart defects.

Microstroke is the informal name for one of the mildest forms of ischemic stroke - TIA (transient ischemic attack). The term "mini-stroke" has been used for a long time and often, especially among patients, although such a diagnosis does not exist in official medicine. There is only a certain type of stroke.

Regarding the essence of the phenomenon, a microstroke is a necessarily transient acute violation of cerebral circulation, the symptoms of which depend on the localization of the process. It is important to note that only such a type of stroke is considered a microstroke, the neurological manifestations of which disappear within 1 day, since the lesion site does not have time to form.

The body still has compensatory reserves in order to eliminate circulatory disorders, but they are not unlimited. And if you do not start correcting risk factors and do not take preventive measures, the next time a stroke will most likely be without the prefix "micro".

A microstroke is classified according to severity:

• Easy (lasts no more than 10 minutes).
• Moderate (lasts from 10 minutes to several hours, neurological symptoms pass completely).
• Severe (lasts from several hours to 1 day, minor neurological disorders may persist).

Microstrokes are also distinguished according to the localization of the process:

• Vertebrobasilar system.
• Carotid artery.
• cerebral arteries.

Causes and factors of occurrence

It should be noted that there is no single provoking factor for the occurrence of this disease, it is always a combination of several health disorders. The main causes of a microstroke are:

• Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the lumen of the vessels of the brain due to atherosclerotic plaques) This is a huge risk factor, because the narrower the lumen of the vessel, the greater the likelihood of a microstroke). The main cause of atherosclerosis is hypercholesterolemia.
• Arterial hypertension (lack of blood pressure control is the cause of degradation of the walls of cerebral vessels with the subsequent formation of microaneurysms, which, together with atherosclerosis, leads to more than half of the cases of strokes).
• Blood diseases.
• Cardiac pathologies leading to increased thrombosis (atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, rheumatological diseases, endocarditis, valve damage of various etiologies, valve prosthetics, defects).
• Vascular diseases, predominantly of an inflammatory and infectious nature, arterial dissection, congenital pathologies.
• Osteochondrosis.

Signs and symptoms of a microstroke

To know how a microstroke manifests itself, you need to understand that its symptoms depend solely on the localization of the process. They are almost never of a general nature. These are usually temporary specific neurological disorders.

Accordingly, the signs of a microstroke can be divided into groups according to the basin of the artery in which the circulatory disorder occurred:

• Basin of the carotid artery (various visual impairments on the affected side, hemiparesis, sensitivity pathologies, speech changes).
• Vertebrobasilar system (dizziness, nausea, dysarthria, diplopia, impaired motor and sensory activity, hemianopsia, visual impairment).
• Ophthalmic arteries (transient blindness of one eye).
• Hippocal-fornical region (impaired short-term memory)

Complications in the disease

The most severe complication that usually occurs with a microstroke is the persistence of the manifested neurological disorders in a mild degree. However, if the causes that caused the micro-stroke are not eliminated and the patient ignores his condition, the cerebrovascular accident will definitely recur and a full-fledged stroke will occur, which rarely goes away without complications.

Diagnostics

Due to the short duration of manifestations of a microstroke, patients do not always go to the doctor. However, if this happens, the main criterion for diagnosis is the presence of characteristic neurological symptoms.

First of all, you should contact a neurologist - it is he who knows how to treat a microstroke. Instrumental examinations can often turn out to be uninformative, since the infarction zone might not have had time to form. Even such highly informative methods as computed tomography or ultrasound of the arteries of the brain, which are usually used, can only indicate indirect symptoms. Additional optional diagnostic methods include:

• Angiography of cerebral vessels.
• Echocardiography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
• Positron emission tomography.

Treatment of a microstroke

Due to the fact that neurological symptoms in 90% of cases go away on their own and apparently without a trace, the treatment of a microstroke is aimed at preventing subsequent larger strokes.

The main areas to work on are the following:

• Treatment of arterial hypertension and strict control of pressure.
• Treatment of atherosclerosis and control of the diameter of the main vessels of the brain.
• Treatment of concomitant cardiovascular diseases.
• Control of blood glucose levels and continuous maintenance therapy in the presence of diabetes mellitus.
• Compliance with the diet, smoking cessation.

Medicines and preparations

If medical therapy is necessary, patients are prescribed the following drugs:

• Antiplatelet agents (aspirin, clopidogrel) - long-term daily intake.
• Anticoagulants (heparin, warfarin) - in the presence of concomitant cardiovascular pathologies.
• Statins (atorvastatin) - to lower cholesterol levels.

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment of a microstroke folk remedies is general in nature. It cannot replace medical prescriptions. But at the same time, it is quite effective as a support for the body during the fight against the manifestations of a microstroke.

The main recipes are:

• Daily intake of sage infusion for a month.
• Infusion of celandine is taken 20 drops three times a day for 3 months.
• Popular infusions and decoctions of spruce cones, needles and bark with a constant daily intake.
• A good effect is the use of a mixture of crushed lemon, garlic and honey. In addition, lemon can be used in the form of compresses, taken in baths with it, and added to food and drinks.
• Olive oil is mixed with chopped bay leaves, honey and lemon, slightly heated and taken three times a day for six months in a tablespoon.

Prevention

Prevention of myrostroke includes the following activities:

• Mandatory control of blood pressure and treatment of arterial hypertension.
• Continuous monitoring of cholesterol and glucose levels.
• Compliance with the diet.
• Taking antiplatelet agents.
• Moderate physical activity.
• Timely detection and treatment of cardiovascular pathologies.
• Increased attention to the possible manifestation of neurological manifestations and consultation with a doctor.

Diet for microstroke

Nutrition after a microstroke is adjusted, depending on the concomitant diseases that caused the blood flow disturbance. Usually the diet is aimed at lowering cholesterol.

The general principles are:

• Reducing the consumption of animal fats: mayonnaise, butter, fatty meat, lard and other similar products.
• Decreased salt and sugar intake.
• It is recommended not to abuse flour dishes.
• Increase in the daily menu the amount of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts.
• Refusal of alcohol, canned and pickled food.

Features of the course of a microstroke in children

important and dangerous feature microstroke in children is its "invisibility". Symptoms are much less pronounced than in adults, and neurological manifestations resolve quickly and are rarely noticed. Micro strokes in children almost always occur due to severe congenital malformations of blood vessels, heart or blood diseases.

Therefore, children often do not receive adequate treatment, and instead of a microstroke, a complicated stroke subsequently occurs. It is important not to be negligent about the presence of atypical neurological manifestations and to consult a doctor in a timely manner.