PRINTER'S NO. 1616
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
303
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY FABRIZIO, BAKER, TOOHIL, DiGIROLAMO, DeLUCA,
HENNESSEY, WATSON, R. BROWN, DUSH, DAVIS, SONNEY, FREEMAN,
WARD, LONGIETTI, READSHAW, SCHWEYER, BOBACK, SCHLOSSBERG,
BULLOCK, MILLARD, ROEBUCK, BIZZARRO, GOODMAN, DEASY,
V. BROWN, STURLA, FITZGERALD, ROZZI, EVERETT, MURT, KORTZ,
NEILSON, PYLE, HEFFLEY, PASHINSKI, SAYLOR AND GILLEN,
MAY 2, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 2, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of May 2017 as "Pediatric Stroke Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular disease,
happens when blood flow to the brain stops, resulting in tissue
injury and loss of brain function; and
WHEREAS, A stroke is a medical emergency that can cause
permanent neurological damage, or even death, if not promptly
diagnosed and treated; and
WHEREAS, Stroke is not restricted to adults; and
WHEREAS, Stroke is a significant cause of neurologic
morbidity in childhood; and
WHEREAS, Stroke can occur in children of any age; and
WHEREAS, According to the American Stroke Association, stroke
occurs in approximately 1 out of every 3,500 live births and has
an overall annual incidence of 4.6 per 100,000 children 19 years
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of age or younger; and
WHEREAS, Many children with stroke syndromes are misdiagnosed
with more common conditions that mimic stroke, such as
migraines, epilepsy or viral illnesses; and
WHEREAS, Pediatric stroke risk factors include arteriopathy
and vascular malformations, congenital heart disease, sickle
cell disease and hematologic abnormalities, among others; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 60% of infants and children who have a
pediatric stroke will have serious, permanent neurological
disabilities, including paralysis, seizures, speech and vision
problems and attention, learning and behavioral difficulties;
and
WHEREAS, These disabilities may require ongoing physical
therapy and surgeries; and
WHEREAS, Stroke recurs within 5 years in 10% of children who
have had an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Center of Health
Statistics, stroke in children is at least as frequent as brain
tumors and is among the top 10 causes of death in children
between 1 and 19 years of age in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The death rate for children who experience a stroke
before one year of age is the highest rate for all child age
groups; and
WHEREAS, The permanent health concerns and treatments
resulting from strokes that occur during childhood and young
adulthood have a considerable impact on children, families and
society; and
WHEREAS, There are no approved therapies for the treatment of
acute stroke in infants and children; and
WHEREAS, Many of the procedures increasingly used in children
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with cerebrovascular disease have been adapted from studies in
adults; and
WHEREAS, Accumulating experience with antithrombotic and
anticoagulant treatments in children suggests that these agents
can be safely used in children, though their efficacy and proper
dose need to be established by controlled trials; and
WHEREAS, Thrombolytic agents should be as effective in
children as in adults, but safety data is inadequate for the
child population; and
WHEREAS, The timing of administration and the dosage for
thrombolytic agents for children and adolescents need to be
determined; and
WHEREAS, Not enough is known about the cause, treatment and
prevention of pediatric stroke; and
WHEREAS, Medical research is the only means by which people
can identify and develop effective treatment and prevention
strategies for pediatric stroke; and
WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric stroke
greatly improves the chances that the affected child will
recover and not experience a recurrence; and
WHEREAS, Continued coordination and cooperation among
researchers, families and the public is needed to improve
treatments and prognoses for children who suffer strokes;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of May 2017 as "Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania and urge residents of this Commonwealth to support
the efforts, programs, services and organizations that work to
enhance public awareness of pediatric stroke.
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