What are blood clots and thrombosis?
Blood clots are clumps of protein that occur when blood hardens from a liquid to a solid. A clot that forms inside a blood vessel is called a thrombus. Most of the time, clotting is a normal healthy process that stops bleeding in an injured area. Clots usually dissolve when the injured tissue has healed.
Blood clotting disorders, called thrombosis, happen when a blood clot forms in a vein or artery and blocks blood flow. Thrombosis can prevent oxygen and nutrients from being delivered to healthy tissue and cause that tissue to die. If a blood clot travels through a vein or artery to the heart, lungs or brain, it can also cause serious complications. Blood clots and thrombosis can be diagnosed at any age. It’s crucial to consult a qualified health care professional promptly for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
What are the symptoms of blood clots?
Symptoms vary depending on the location and size of the blood clot(s). Examples of symptoms include:
- Blood clots in the brain may cause visual disturbances, weakness, seizures, or speech impairment.
- Blood clots in the arm or leg may cause sudden pain, swelling, or tenderness.
- A blood clot in the lung may cause sharp chest pain, rapid pulse, bloody cough, shortness of breath, sweating, or fever.
- A blood clot in the abdomen may cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea.
Sometimes a blood clot forms around a central venous catheter (a central line) when medication is delivered to a patient intravenously (IV). Symptoms of a central venous catheter clot include pain or swelling in the neck, face, chest, or arm. Like all blood clots, this should be addressed immediately.
How are blood clots diagnosed?
If a doctor suspects a blood clot is in a vein or artery, ultrasound imaging will usually locate it. A CT scan or MRI might also be necessary.
What causes clotting disorders in children?
Blood clotting disorders in kids are uncommon. They can be inherited (family history) or acquired (injury or illness). Some causes of blood clots in kids include:
- Infection or surgical-related thrombosis – When a child has an infection or undergoes surgery, their body might react by forming blood clots.
- Genetic thrombosis – Blood clotting disorders can be inherited from parents. Families often learn their child is at risk for a clotting problem after another relative is diagnosed.
- Catheter- and line-associated thrombosis – Sometimes blood clots form around medical devices like catheters or IV lines.
- Medication-induced thrombosis – Certain medications, especially those related to hormones (like estrogen), can increase the risk of blood clots.
What outcomes are available for blood clots treated at Children’s Minnesota?
Children with blood clots and clotting disorders may require short-term or lifelong medical care. This depends on the reason for the clot. If your child has a blood clot and/or is diagnosed with hereditary thrombophilia, he or she will need to stick to a treatment plan to help control any symptoms or complications. Through medical and lifestyle intervention, most children with blood clotting disorders can expect to lead a normal life.
Contact our clotting disorders program
If you are a family member looking for a Children’s Minnesota hematologist or wanting to schedule an appointment, please call our clinic at Children’s Minnesota – Minneapolis at 612-813-5940. Or visit our clotting disorders program page for more information.
If you are a health professional looking for consultation or referral information, please call Children’s Physician Access at 1-866-755-2121 (toll-free) and ask for the on-call hematologist.
