Stroke: a realistic approach to a growing problem in sub-Saharan Africa is urgently needed.

Stroke is an increasing problem in sub-Saharan Africa, even in children. High rates of hypertension, diabetes, alcohol abuse, smoking, insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption, sickle cell disease, HIV infection, antiretroviral use and race are likely contributing factors. Although often considered as related to increasing wealth, stroke is more strongly related to poverty, and in turn increases it.

Validation study of the Siriraj Stroke score in African Nigerians and evaluation of the discriminant values of its parameters: a preliminary prospective CT scan study.

Background And Purpose: CT scanning is important to identify stroke pathology and exclude mimics. Its poor availability in our environment makes the search for simple, reliable clinical-score imperative. This study aims to validate the Siriraj Stroke score (SSS) and determine the discriminant values of its parameters in the black population of African-Nigerians.