Mallorca has a child stroke plan; six regions do not

Mallorca, in Spain’s Balearic Islands, has an emergency plan for children with strokes, but six Spanish regions lack one: a specialist says diagnosis and treatment must happen within 24 hours. On Wednesday 28 October, paediatric neurologist Cristina Villar urged every region to adopt the plan. Her survey found it in place in ten regions, including the Balearic Islands.

Why the first 24 hours matter

Children can have strokes, but Villar says their causes differ from those in adults. She points to blood vessel conditions, heart disease and infections. The sooner treatment starts, she says, the better a child’s prospects of recovery.

The emergency plan, called the Código Ictus Pediátrico or CIP, sets out what happens when a doctor suspects a stroke. It coordinates transport, brain imaging and urgent treatment. Without it, Villar warns, a diagnosis may come too late for treatment.

The gap across Spain

A survey of paediatric neurologists found the code operating in ten Spanish regions, including the Balearic Islands, but absent from six. Villar says Andalusia is close to approving it. That leaves a child’s access to the planned emergency response dependent on where they live.

A protocol alone is not enough, she adds. Hospitals also need trained staff, available transport and equipment for rapid diagnosis. Villar says many regions lack funded neurological rehabilitation for children after a stroke.

Topics: Health

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com