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Aim: To estimate the strengths of association between clinical features and migraine or arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) in children presenting to the emergency department.Method: Eighty-four children with migraine, prospectively recruited from 2009 to 2010, were compared with 55 children with AIS, prospectively/retrospectively recruited from 2003 to 2010. Odds ratios were calculated via logistic regression to measure associations between clinical features and process-of-care factors, and migraine and AIS.Results: Median age was 13 years 5 months (interquartile range 12y 11mo-13y 10mo) for migraine and 5 years (interquartile range 3y 7mo-8y) for patients with AIS. All cases of AIS and 30% of migraine cases underwent neuroimaging. Over 40% of children with migraine had vomiting, numbness, or visual disturbance; other symptoms were uncommon. Fifty-five per cent had no signs on physician assessment. Weakness or speech disturbance were common in patients with AIS. Significant clinical features associated with increased odds of AIS included sudden symptom onset, weakness, seizures, speech disturbance, and ataxia, and signs of face, arm, or leg weakness, inability to walk, dysarthria, dysphasia, and altered consciousness (p<0.05). Significant features associated with decreased odds of AIS included older age, vomiting, visual, sensory, other symptoms, and absent focal signs on assessment (p<0.05).Interpretation: Presenting features can discriminate childhood AIS from migraine. These differences inform decisions about urgency and type of neuroimaging in children presenting to the emergency department with brain attack symptoms.What the Paper Adds: Weakness, seizures, ataxia, speech, or walking difficulties are more frequent in arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS). Vomiting, visual, or sensory disturbance and absent focal signs are more frequent in migraine. Identifying features of AIS and migraine guides neuroimaging in children with brain attack symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Childhood stroke disrupts brain development and emerging neural networks. Motor, cognitive, and language deficits are well recognized, yet little is known about psychosocial function after childhood stroke. This study aims to describe psychosocial function within the first year after childhood stroke, and to identify factors associated with outcome.Method: Thirty-seven children were involved in a prospective, longitudinal study investigating recovery over the first year after childhood stroke. Children's social functioning was assessed at 6-months and 12-months poststroke and psychological function at 12-months poststroke, using standardized measures.Results: Mean social function was poorer at both 6-months and 12-months poststroke, compared to prestroke. Psychological problems were more common than expected, with emotional difficulties and hyperactivity-inattention most significantly affected. Poorer social function was associated with older age at onset, acute neurological impairment, and prestroke social impairment. Social and psychological problems were associated with parent mental health.Interpretation: While not all children are affected, psychosocial impairment affects a significant minority after childhood stroke. Older age at onset, acute neurological impairment, prestroke social problems, and poorer parent mental health were associated with deficits. Identifying early predictors of poorer outcome will facilitate early intervention. Of particular importance is parent mental health, suggesting support for families may improve child outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim: There is a paucity of data from randomized controlled treatment trials in childhood arterial ischaemic stroke. Our objectives were to identify and plan a trial through use of a Delphi consensus process.Method: The Delphi panel consisted of Australian, New Zealand, and European paediatric neurologists with interests in childhood stroke. Four rounds were conducted using a REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) Web-based application: the first consisted of open-ended questions; the second evaluated agreement for the most important trial; the third and fourth reached consensus on design.Results: Forty-seven out of 66 neurologists answered the first round. Eight areas of research for important and feasible trials were identified. In the second round, 43 paediatric neurologists ranked the three highest rated trials: (1) aspirin versus aspirin plus steroids in focal arteriopathy (n=31); (2) heparin versus aspirin (n=6); and (3) heparin versus aspirin versus modern anticoagulation (n=6). The third and fourth surveys reached consensus among 43 out of 44 respondents on design of the highest ranked trial, and allowed agreement on inclusion/exclusion criteria, clinical/neuroimaging data, and treatment protocols.Conclusion: The Delphi consensus process is an efficient method of identifying and planning paediatric stroke trials. An international, multicentre trial is now in preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on treatment of childhood stroke. Topics discussed include childhood stroke guidelines provided by Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; prognosis, rehabilitation and clinical management of the same; and development of national clinical networks for standardizing the management along the continuum of care.