Vaccinations Lower Risk of Pediatric Stroke

Children who receive recommended vaccinations are significantly less likely to have a pediatric stroke, according to a series of studies recently presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in San Diego.

The studies, which observed data on children both in the U.S. and third-world countries, investigated multiple correlations between common pediatric illnesses preventable with vaccination and the likelihood of stroke.

For instance, one study analyzed the data of pediatric stoke victims, finding that a significant number were infected with an illness, such as an upper respiratory infection,  one week prior to having the stroke. Another study examined the blood of pediatric stroke victims, finding that over 41 percent of these children had been infected with a common acute herpes virus, which causes cold sores.

According to study co-author Dr. Heather Fullerton, the research team concluded that children who are frequently ill with infection preventable by vaccine are nearly seven times more likely to have a stroke.

Luckily, pediatric stokes and remarkably rare to begin with, vaccinations or no. Fullerton said in her presentation that only five in every 100,000 children in the U.S. have a pediatric stroke each year. About half these strokes are caused by blood clots, which was a significant focus of the studies.

Still, Fullerton's data does imply that pediatric vaccinations may be beneficial beyond just infection prevention alone. Pediatric stroke rates in children in third-world countries proved notably higher than in the U.S., likely because of inadequate availability of immunization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide guidelines for all licensed U.S. pediatricians and clinics in how and when to vaccinate at-risk children.

Because the studies were presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. It should also be noted that the studies did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, but only presented evidence of numerical correlations.

Abstracts of the presentation can be found published online through the American Heart Association.