Tessa Quinn
Concussions are a common injury, especially in young athletes, with millions of children experiencing concussions each year. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or any fall or hit that jars the brain. This disrupts the brain's normal function, affecting mental stamina and performance. While concussions are usually temporary, they are all serious, and ignoring any signs or symptoms puts a child's long- and short-term health at risk. If a child is thought to have a concussion, they should be taken to a hospital, where doctors will assess and treat the injury. Treatment may include rest, both cognitive and physical, and medication.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Rest, both cognitive and physical |
| Use ice packs on the head or neck to ease pain | |
| Give OTC pain medicine, like acetaminophen, for minor headaches within 24 hours | |
| Give ibuprofen after 24 hours | |
| Avoid screens | |
| Read, draw, and do homework for short periods | |
| Go on walks and do other light exercise | |
| Avoid activities that could lead to another head injury | |
| Avoid gym class, contact sports, balancing activities, and driving motor vehicles | |
| Limit daytime sleep and get approximately seven hours of sleep each night in the first week | |
| Diagnosis | Baseline neurocognitive testing to evaluate a healthy athlete's decision-making ability, reaction time, attention, and memory |
| ImPACT evaluation to monitor brain health and safety |
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What You'll Learn
Concussion symptoms and diagnosis
Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or any fall or hit that jars the brain. This disrupts the brain's normal function, affecting mental stamina and performance, and causing the brain to work harder to complete simple tasks. Concussion symptoms can develop immediately or up to 48 hours after the incident.
Physical symptoms are usually the most obvious and can include headaches, a feeling of pressure in the head, balance problems, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, double or blurred vision, sensitivity to light, ringing in the ears, and sensitivity to sound. Cognitive symptoms include feeling foggy, trouble concentrating or focusing, amnesia or short-term memory loss, and changes in sleep patterns.
If a child is suspected of having a concussion, it is important to seek treatment immediately. This can include calling a doctor or healthcare provider for instructions, visiting an urgent care clinic or emergency department, or scheduling an appointment with a paediatric concussion centre. It is recommended to let the child rest and nap as needed, stay home from school for a few days, and get a good night's sleep. Ice packs can be used to ease any pain, and over-the-counter pain medication can be given if needed. It is also important to avoid screens during the recovery process.
The recovery time for concussions varies, with most children recovering completely within a few weeks to a month. However, some may take longer, especially if they have sustained multiple concussions. In rare cases, repeated concussions can lead to massive brain swelling and permanent brain damage. To prevent this, it is crucial to ensure proper recovery and follow-up care, which may include annual check-ups or ongoing assessments and testing.
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Treatment and recovery
If a concussion is suspected, it is important to seek treatment immediately, even if the injury seems minor. A child should be removed from any sports or physical activity and taken to the nearest emergency department. Ignoring any signs or symptoms puts the child's long- and short-term health at risk.
In the short term, rest is critical for recovery. This includes both cognitive and physical rest, and children may need to stay home from school or daycare for 1-2 days. It is recommended to limit daytime sleep and aim for approximately seven hours of sleep each night in the first week after a concussion. Using ice packs on the head or neck can help ease the pain, and over-the-counter pain medication can be given for minor headaches. After 24 hours, ibuprofen can also be administered. It is also advised to avoid screens, including TV, computers, tablets, and cell phones.
During the recovery process, children should be monitored carefully, especially in the first 1-2 days after the concussion. If any new symptoms develop or existing symptoms worsen, immediate medical attention should be sought.
The recovery time for concussions varies, with most children recovering within a few weeks. However, some may take months to fully recover, and it is important to follow the doctor's instructions regarding follow-up care and returning to physical activities. Children who sustain multiple concussions, especially during an early sports career, tend to take longer to recover and are at risk for serious, long-term problems, including delayed or incomplete recovery. Therefore, preventing subsequent concussions during the recovery period is crucial.
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Prevention
Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or any fall or hit that jars the brain. This "invisible" injury can affect a child physically, cognitively, and emotionally and can disrupt their sleep. While a blow to the head may not seem serious, ignoring any signs or symptoms of a concussion is putting the child’s long- and short-term health at risk.
To prevent concussions in children, it is important to ensure they are safe when playing sports or doing other physical activities. Here are some ways to help prevent concussions in children:
- Ensure your child’s sports equipment fits properly and is regularly checked and maintained.
- Encourage your child to follow the rules of the sport and practice good sportsmanship.
- Encourage your child to listen to their coaches and practice good technique.
- If your child is participating in a sport, ensure they follow the rules and avoid any rough play or contact that could lead to a head injury.
- If your child has sustained a concussion, ensure they take the time to rest and recover fully before returning to any physical activities.
- Follow-up care is important. Depending on your child’s specific injury and symptoms, they may need annual check-ups or ongoing assessments and testing. Ask your doctor for a detailed follow-up plan.
- If your child is at risk for another head injury, it is important to be vigilant and watch your child carefully in the first one to two days after the incident.
- Baseline neurocognitive (concussion) testing can be done to evaluate a healthy athlete’s decision-making ability, reaction time, attention, and memory. This can help determine when your child’s cognitive function has returned to normal after a concussion.
- Educate your child about the potential dangers of concussions and the importance of seeking medical attention if they experience any symptoms.
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Long-term effects
Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or any fall or hit that jars the brain. While one concussion usually does not cause permanent brain damage, multiple concussions can change the brain's structure and function, leading to severe complications and an increased risk of serious health conditions.
The long-term effects of concussions in children can vary. Most children will fully recover within several weeks to a month, regaining normal brain function with no long-term consequences. However, some children may experience delayed or incomplete recovery, especially if they sustain multiple concussions or return to activities too soon, without giving their brain adequate time to heal.
The risk of long-term problems increases when a child sustains a second concussion before fully recovering from the first. In such cases, the child is at risk of serious, long-term issues, including massive brain swelling and permanent brain damage, though these cases are rare. Repeated concussions have been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which has been observed in professional athletes who have suffered multiple concussions and subsequently experienced severe depression, memory issues, and difficulties with basic activities of daily living.
To promote recovery and prevent long-term complications, it is crucial to allow the brain to rest and heal. Cognitive and physical rest is recommended, which may include limiting screen time and engaging in light activities such as short walks. Children should be symptom-free at rest and with physical exertion before returning to sports or other activities. Baseline neurocognitive testing can help determine when a child's cognitive function has returned to normal.
Additionally, proper management of concussions in children can help prevent long-term effects. This includes seeking immediate medical attention, following the doctor's instructions, and providing ongoing follow-up care as needed. Educating children about the importance of proper equipment, rule-following, and good sportsmanship can also help reduce the risk of future concussions and their potential long-term consequences.
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When to seek emergency care
Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or any fall or hit that jars the brain. While a blow to the head may not seem serious, ignoring any signs or symptoms of a concussion puts a child's long- and short-term health at risk. If you think your child has a concussion, it is important to seek treatment right away, even if the injury or symptoms seem minor.
If your child is participating in a sport at the time of injury, take them out of the game or practice. Your child should avoid activities that put them at risk of another head injury soon after the first one. A child should recover and be completely symptom-free at rest and with physical exertion before returning to sports or other activities. Before a youth athlete can return to play, they must be cleared by a healthcare provider trained in the management of concussions.
If you think your child has a concussion, do the following:
- Call your child's doctor or healthcare provider for instructions.
- Go to an urgent care clinic or emergency department.
- Let your child rest and nap as needed during the day. They may need to stay home from school or daycare for 1 to 2 days.
- Use ice packs on the head or neck to ease the pain.
- If they have a minor headache within 24 hours, give them an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol). After 24 hours, it's okay to give ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).
- Avoid screens, like TV, computers, tablets, and cell phones.
Call your child's doctor immediately, go to the emergency room, or call 911 if your child has any new symptoms or if symptoms get worse, such as:
- Loss of consciousness (being "knocked out")
- Headaches or a feeling of pressure in the head
- Balance problems (including dizziness)
- A feeling of lightheadedness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Double vision (diplopia)
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Hearing a ringing in their ears (tinnitus)
- Sensitivity to sounds (hyperacusis)
- Temporary loss of consciousness (fainting or passing out)
- Feeling like they're in a fog or not like their usual self
- Trouble concentrating or focusing
- Amnesia or short-term memory loss
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Frequently asked questions
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or by any fall or hit that jars the brain. Concussions disrupt the brain's normal function, affecting mental stamina and performance, and causing the brain to work harder to complete simple tasks.
Symptoms of a concussion may include headaches, a feeling of pressure in the head, balance problems, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound, and temporary loss of consciousness. These symptoms may develop immediately or up to 48 hours after the incident.
If you suspect your child has a concussion, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Contact your child's doctor or healthcare provider for instructions, or visit an urgent care clinic or emergency department. Let your child rest, nap, and get a good night's sleep. Use ice packs to ease any pain or headaches, and avoid screens.
Most concussions last a few weeks, but recovery time varies for each child and some may take a month or longer to recover fully. It is important to ensure your child's brain and body get adequate rest, and to follow the instructions of your healthcare provider regarding their return to school, sports, or other activities.
