Concussions

The term concussion conjures up the image of a child knocked unconscious while playing sports. But concussions — temporary loss of brain function — can happen with any head injury, often without any loss of consciousness. And many head injuries occur off the playing field, in car and bicycle accidents, in fights, and even routine calamities and falls.

Kids who sustain concussions usually can recover within a week, without lasting health problems, by following certain precautions and taking a breather from sports.

But a child with an undiagnosed concussion can be at risk for brain damage and even disability.

If your child does sustain a head injury, even without a loss of consciousness, it's important to watch for symptoms of a concussion, including:

• a change in mental state
• a bad headache
• confusion
• repeated vomiting

A child with these symptoms should be taken to the emergency room.

About Concussions

The brain is made of soft tissue and is cushioned by spinal fluid. It is encased in the hard, protective skull. The brain can move around inside the skull and even bang against it. If the brain does bang against the skull — for example, if a child hits his or her head on the sidewalk — the brain can get bruised, blood vessels can be torn, and the nerves inside the brain can be injured. These injuries can lead to a concussion, which is the temporary loss of brain function.

There are three different types, or grades, of concussions. The severity of a concussion determines the length of time needed before a player can safely return to sports activities:

• Grade 1 concussions involve no loss of consciousness and cause a temporary change in mental state, like confusion, disorientation, and trouble focusing, which resolves within about 15 minutes.
• Grade 2 concussions are similar but the change in mental state lasts longer than 15 minutes.
• Grade 3 concussions include a loss of consciousness, regardless of how long they last.

Head injuries that result in concussions can be caused by car, bike, and motorcycle accidents; falls; assaults; and contact sports (football, ice hockey, volleyball, lacrosse, basketball, wrestling, field hockey, rugby, soccer, softball, baseball, etc.).

Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

A child with a concussion may lose consciousness, but this doesn't occur in every case. Other signs of a concussion include:

• feeling confused and dazed
• temporary amnesia
• blurred vision
• headache
• slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense
• difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
• difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being able to catch a ball or other easy tasks)
• vomiting
• trouble remembering things, such as what happened right before or after the injury
• feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason

Young kids can have the same concussion symptoms as older kids and adults, but changes in mood and behavior may be more subtle.