When most people think of strokes, they picture older adults.
But while rare, children and teenagers can also experience strokes, and doctors say recognizing the warning signs quickly can make all the difference.
For 11-year-old Camila, what began as a normal school day quickly turned into a medical emergency.
Her mother, Cristal Ramos, said Camila collapsed during gym class after telling people she wasn’t feeling well.
The school nurse called, and Camila was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with a massive stroke.
“You wouldn’t think your 11-year-old is having a stroke,” Ramos said.
Camila is now continuing her recovery with physical therapy at TIRR Memorial Hermann.
“I had a stroke, and I had to put in a lot of work at therapy, and I’m still having to put in a lot of work,” Camila said.
Her mother recalled the frightening symptoms she saw before learning her daughter had suffered a stroke.
“Her speech was really, really slurred. She couldn’t control her eyes. Her head was completely fixed to the right, complete left-sided weakness, and at that point she wasn’t moving anything on the left side anymore,” Ramos said.
Camila underwent three major brain surgeries before beginning rehabilitation.
“There were times when it was very painful and I didn’t want to do it, but I knew I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to get out of the hospital,” Camila said.
Despite the challenges, her mother said she exceeded doctors’ expectations.
“She just seemed to surpass everything that the doctors would tell us,” Ramos said.
Emily Kline, Camila’s physical therapist at TIRR Memorial Hermann, said the warning signs of a stroke in children are largely the same as they are in adults.
“They are the same signs in kids as they are in adults,” Kline said. “We’re looking at any facial weakness, any arm weakness, but sometimes leg weakness as well.”
She said some children may also experience:
- A severe headache or migraine that won’t go away
- Difficulty speaking or slurred speech
- Weakness on one side of the body
- Facial drooping
Kline said any of these symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency.
“The biggest thing is time,” she said.
Ramos hopes sharing her daughter’s story will help other families recognize the signs of pediatric stroke before it’s too late.
“Pediatric stroke, I don’t think it’s spoken about enough. I don’t think enough people know about it,” she said.
Although pediatric strokes are uncommon, doctors say parents should seek immediate emergency medical care if they suspect their child is having one. Early treatment can improve the chances of recovery.