In a large study funded by the NIH, Dr. deVeber and colleagues examined the vascular effects of infection on pediatric stroke. They found that infection, including common childhood infections, was associated with a sixfold increased risk of stroke. Data also indicated that lack of routine vaccination increased the risk of stroke in children by a factor of seven. Herpes viruses and parvovirus b19 were prevalent among children with stroke.
“The number of publications in the field of pediatric stroke is rising dramatically,” concluded Dr. deVeber. The field “invites all of you [and] all of your trainees to participate. It’s open to everybody.”
—Erik Greb