Did you know that a stroke can happen at any age? May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month and is an opportunity to bring awareness, share knowledge, and support those who have survived stroke. Our HTC treats bleeding disorders but also has a portion of our clinic dedicated to the treatment of pediatric stroke. Our pediatric neurologists work with infants, children, and teens who have had a stroke, and are involved in research to treat and prevent stroke in children. Over the past year our stroke team has grown to include several new staff members including a psychologist, social workers, and additional medical team members. Our stroke team strives to improve the lives of our patients and make a difference in their health.
While 90% of all strokes occur in adults over 50, strokes still happen to children, including babies in the womb. It is still rare for a child to experience a stroke—about two to three children in every 100,000—but it is important to bring awareness that it does occur. The symptoms of a stroke in adults are better known than those of a stroke in a child. Some symptoms of pediatric stroke may be missed because many people are unaware that a child can even have a stroke.
For all ages it is important to remember F.A.S.T (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and when those are present, Time to call 9-1-1). A prompt diagnosis and treatment of stroke, no matter what the age, is critical to all who experience stroke. Children may exhibit these symptoms but it may be hard to notice them in a baby.
Additional symptoms of pediatric stroke in infants are seizures, repetitive twitching of the face, leg, or arm, and problems with sleep apnea. Babies who show marked decreased movement on one side of the body or show a preference for one hand before the age of one may also be exhibiting signs of stroke. Most children will not favor one hand or the other until after they become a year old.
Our pediatric stroke program works year round to research causes and treatment of stroke in children. Our HTC has a support group that provides help and community to families with a child who has survived stroke. This group meets once a month, but will not be having meetings in June or July. Details about upcoming meetings can be found at our website by going to
www.medschool.ucdenver.edu/htc and click on the COMMUNITY tab and finding the Pediatric Stroke Parent Support Group page. You can also follow the support group on Facebook at the page: Colopedsstroke.
Photos: Many from our HTC Staff and stroke team wore purple to support Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month.. Photo, Merilee Ashton.
Improving the health, safety, and well-being of adolescents is a national priority. Making sure teens who have bleeding disorders are confident and educated to take care of their own medical needs as they mature is a focus in Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTC) nationwide. Parents or guardians are responsible for managing bleeding disorder care for small children including scheduling appointments and infusing factor. But as children with a bleeding disorder grow older, HTCs help teach young adults skills and encourage them to take on these responsibilities.
to give our bleeding disorder patients a heads up to be sure to double check your insurance prescription coverage for 2019. If you use Express Scripts as your prescription provider, please note that some significant changes have been made to some of their excluded medications.
Our Pharmacy is required to have records on file about medications and supplies they send out to our patients. When you receive factor or other items from our HTC Pharmacy, please remember to return the delivery receipt stamped in 
