Little Ones' Little Infections Raise Stroke Risk — For a Little While

Previously, infections have been identified as a risk factor for arterial ischemic stroke in adults, especially those younger than 50 years. To examine the association in children, researchers conducted a retrospective study using population-based data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California. The authors identified 102 children with arterial ischemic stroke and compared their infection histories with those of 306 age-matched controls.

A visit to the pediatrician for minor infection in the previous 3 days was associated with a 12-fold increased risk for arterial ischemic stroke. Most of the infections were upper respiratory infections (i.e., colds). Children with major infections known to be associated with stroke, such as meningitis, were…