Significance

• Blood clots in children occur most of the time from inadequate circulation in the blood stream. They can be serious if not treated properly and quickly.
  
  

Facts

• While rare, approximately one out of every 10,000 children will develop a blood clot. Blood clots in children are most often found in infants or teenagers.
  
  

Causes

• Blood clots can occur because of a genetic predisposition to a disorder in which the blood clots easily. In other cases poor circulation is the cause of blood clots.
  
  

Signs/Symptoms

• Swelling and pain in the area of the blood clot is a symptom after the clot has been present for a significant amount of time. During the early stages of a blood clot, there are no outward signs or symptoms.
  
  

Treatment

• For children who are diagnosed with blood clotting abnormalities, a physician will prescribe a blood thinner. Some children require a surgical procedure to remove the clot.