KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Usually associated with older people, stroke can affect children, too.

Experts estimate that three out of every 100,000 children suffer from stroke each year.

The number may be low, but it is something all parents and the public should be aware of, said the founder of the National Stroke Association Malaysia (Na-sam), Janet Yeo.

Stroke in children is often due to birth defects, infections, trauma and blood disorder.

This is different from the causes of strokes in adults which are triggered by high-blood pressure, high cholesterol, a history of smoking, too much alcohol and obesity.

Although there are seven Na-sam centres in the country offering help to about 250 stroke survivors, only four children aged between 6 and 10 had sought the association's help.

Yeo said: "When a child suffers a stroke, it is crucial to get him rehabilitated fast so he can regain his physical movements.

"The common mistake made by parents is that they take too long to seek physical therapy for their children."

Childhood stroke occurs between the ages of 1 month and 18 years.

Yeo, who is a stroke survivor of 18 years, said there was a child who had a stroke at 4.

"The parents, however, referred the girl to Nasam four years later. We were unable to help her much as she had formed habits which were difficult to change."

Yeo said she would keep a child with stroke away from school so that the focus would be on the rehabilitation.

Nasam centres have physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists.

Asked if children who suffered from stroke were depressed when undergoing rehabilitation, Yeo said the parents were usually the ones who were depressed.

They would ask her when their children could get well.

This story was first published in The New Straits Times on Feb 4, 2008.