Ohio Teen's Delayed Pediatric Stroke Diagnosis Sheds Light On Problem

March 08, 2013 (Press-News.org) Ohio Teen's Delayed Pediatric Stroke Diagnosis Sheds Light On Problem

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Recently, the parents of a teenage Ohio boy took him to the emergency room after he suddenly experienced a terrible headache and experienced difficulty walking. At the local hospital, the doctors stated they believed the teen was suffering from a migraine. Twenty-five hours later, the boy's mother -- a nurse -- knew something was wrong, and had her son transferred to the Cleveland Clinic.

Physicians at the Clinic revealed that the teen had suffered a stroke. Due to the delayed care at the emergency room, the boy required extensive medical care, including the removal of a portion of his skull for five days to relieve the pressure caused by the swelling in his brain. The teen suffered a second stroke approximately one month later, and was in the hospital for a total of two months.

Shortly after suffering two pediatric strokes, the teen was unable to move the left side of his body and was unable to communicate. In the year following the two strokes, the teen has undergone extensive physical therapy, and has recovered most of his capabilities.

Nevertheless, he is now at greater risk of suffering subsequent strokes later in life. In addition, he is no longer able to play certain sports that involve contact --including rugby, the sport in which he sustained the injury thought to have led to the stroke -- and cannot lift weights.

This is just one example of the thousands of pediatric stroke incidents each year -- a medical problem that is unknown to most people and often misdiagnosedby doctors.

Pediatric strokes affect around 3,000 children every year

According to the American Stroke Association, pediatric strokes are one of the "top 10 causes of death for children." Children are most at risk of suffering a stroke during the first week of their lives. Babies in utero can also suffer a stroke -- in fact, approximately one child out of every 3,000 live births suffers from a pediatric stroke.

A pediatric stroke occurs when the blood supply to a child's brain is blocked. A lack of blood flow to the brain leads to tissue damage, which can ultimately affect brain function. According to the Cleveland Clinic, brain tissue starts to die when it is denied vital nutrients and oxygen for over three minutes.

Consequently, when a child is suffering from a stroke and a proper diagnosis is not made in a timely manner, the consequences can be severe and life altering. If your child was harmed due to a misdiagnosed pediatric stroke, consulting with a skilled, Cleveland personal injury attorney will ensure your rights, and those of your child, are protected.