The Basics
Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate
What is a concussion? " A concussion is a mild brain injury that commonly causes confusion, memory loss, and a headache. A concussion can happen as a result of a fall or other type of accident. But it can also happen during participation in sports. Among adolescents who play sports, concussion is one of the most common injuries.
If your child gets a concussion " either on or off the field " its very important that he or she stop playing sports until the doctor says it's safe to start again. Be aware that kids sometimes lie about their symptoms if they are afraid that they will not be allowed to play if they tell the truth.
Among boys, the sports most often linked to concussions are American football, ice hockey, and lacrosse. Among girls, the sports most often linked to concussions are soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey.
What are the symptoms of a concussion? " Symptoms that can happen minutes to hours after a concussion include:
- Memory loss " Kids sometimes forget what caused their injury, as well as what happened right before and after the injury.
- Confusion
- Headache
- Dizziness or trouble with balance
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling sleepy
- Acting cranky, strangely, or out of sorts
- Passing out (but this is not very common)
Symptoms that can happen hours to days after a concussion include:
- Trouble walking or talking
- Memory problems or problems paying attention
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood or behavior changes
- Vision changes
- Being bothered by noise or light
Will my child need tests? " It depends on your child's injury and symptoms. To check if your child has a concussion, the doctor will ask about his or her symptoms and behavior, and do an exam. The doctor will also ask your child questions to check that he or she is thinking clearly.
If the doctor suspects a serious injury, he or she might order an imaging test of the brain, such as a CT or MRI scan. These tests create pictures of the skull and inside of the brain. But these tests are not usually needed for a routine concussion. In fact, a CT scan can be risky, because it involves radiation. Studies show that doing unnecessary CT scans in children and adolescents increases the risk of cancer later on.
How is a concussion treated? " The most important part of treatment is rest. Most concussions get better on their own, but it can take time. While your child is healing, it's important that he or she not do too much and not play any sports. Having a second injury while the brain is healing from a concussion can seriously damage the brain. Even if your child seems fine, do not let him or her go back to school or sports until the doctor says it's OK.
Your child's doctor will decide which activities are safe for your child. This is different for each child with a concussion. In general, a child or adolescent who is healing from a concussion should:
- Not go to school until he or she is able to stay focused and concentrate for at least 30 to 45 minutes
- Not play sports, do any heavy exercise, or do any activities that risk a head injury (such as ride a bike or skateboard)
- Not spend a lot of time playing video games, sending and receiving text messages, or working at the computer (If a child's concussion symptoms get worse while doing any of these activities, the child should not do them at all.)
- Not listen to loud music
When can my child play sports or do usual activities again? " Ask your child's doctor when he or she can play sports or do usual activities again. It will depend on your child's injury and symptoms, as well as the type of sport your child plays. Most children get better within 2 weeks.
Do not rush it. Your child's brain needs to heal completely after a concussion. If your child gets another concussion before his or her brain has healed, it could lead to serious brain problems.
When your child does return to his or her usual activities, he or she might need to slowly ease into them. That might mean going for a half-day at school, or doing less schoolwork than the other kids at first. The same goes for going back to sports. He or she might need to start with just light jogging and slowly add in other activities.
When should I call the doctor or nurse? " Call the doctor or nurse if any of the following happen after a concussion:
- Your child vomits more than 3 times
- Your child has a severe headache, or a headache that gets worse
- Your child has a seizure
- Your child has trouble walking or talking
- Your child's vision changes
- Your child feels weak or numb in part of the body
- Your child loses bladder or bowel control
- You cannot wake your child
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete.
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014.
Topic 91782 Version 1.0
Release: 22.8 - C22.208
© 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved.
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