Stroke Mimics in the Pediatric Population

Abstract

Pediatric stroke is a very rare condition and it is a cause of significant morbidity and
mortality. It is among the top ten causes of death in the pediatric population, and over half
of stroke survivors experience long-term disabilities. One major challenge in the diagnosis
of stroke is the fact that there are many conditions that may mimic stroke. In the pediatric
population the incidence of stroke mimic is around 79-93% of all presentations of acute focal
brain dysfunction. The most common diagnosis in children is complicated migraine, seizures
disorders, Bell’s palsy and conversion disorders. The aim of the evaluation of these conditions
is to rule out the diagnosis of acute stroke and the computed tomography (CT) is the modality
of choice as is more accessible in the Emergency Departments (ED).