22nd August 2024

A 28 year-old woman is brought in by ambulance as a stroke call due to a collapse at work and right-sided weakness

A 28 year-old woman is brought in by ambulance as a stroke call due to a collapse at work and right-sided weakness. She is usually fit and well although has a history of headaches. She has a 9 month old child who is currently teething and has recently started back at her office job following her maternity leave. Her work colleague reports that initially the patient dropped the cup of tea she was holding. Over a period of a few minutes the weakness seemed to spread from her right hand to her arm before spreading to her face and then her right leg resulting in her being unable to get up from the chair they had brought her. The patient also began struggling to speak but prior to this she had reported tingling around her mouth and in her fingers. The patient is alert but is aphasic and seems to be motioning to her head with her left hand. There is mild and improving limb weakness. What is the most likely cause of her symptoms?

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