Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also called concussion, affects millions of children each year. CDC’s Pediatric mTBI Guideline seeks to improve the care of this injury. An mTBI can lead to short- or long-term problems affecting how a child thinks, acts, learns, and feels.
Full Answer
What should you do if your child has a concussion?
Appropriate evaluation and treatment is the key to a safe outcome. The symptoms of a concussion can cause problems when the child returns to school, home or community activities. The concussion evaluation assesses possible cognitive, behavioral or physical symptoms to assist in planning during recovery.
How to tell if a child has a concussion?
Treatment of Pediatric Concussion. Kuemmerle K(1), Meehan WP 3rd(2). ... We discuss strategies for acute management immediately after a concussion and an introduction to medical and non-medical options for treatment of the complex symptoms that persist in some patients with concussions. We examine the role of rest and exercise during recovery.
How do I know if my child has a concussion?
How is a Pediatric Concussion treated? Concussion treatments will vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. Your child’s treatment may include: Physical therapy Occupational therapy Over-the-counter or prescription medications Allowing the concussion to fully heal is vital for your child’s short- and long-term health.
What are signs and symptoms of concussion in children?
Jan 03, 2020 · minus. Related Pages. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also called concussion, affects millions of children each year. CDC’s Pediatric mTBI Guideline seeks to improve the care of this injury. An mTBI can lead to short- or long-term problems affecting how a child thinks, acts, learns, and feels. CDC created the Pediatric mTBI Guideline, based on the latest science, to …
What is a concussion in soccer?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that most often occurs in contact sports such as football and soccer. It is caused by a powerful blow to the body or the head that shakes the brain inside the skull, possibly damaging nerves.
Can a child return to sports after a concussion?
Your child can return to activities or sports once the concussion has healed and a physician has medically cleared your child. Our resources page provides detailed guides on assessing your child’s recovery from a concussion.
Can a CT scan show a concussion?
And imaging tests such as CT and MRI often show no abnormalities. It is important to examine your child carefully for possible signs and symptoms of a concussion so you can get medical attention as soon as possible.
Can a concussion be seen on a scan?
There may not be any external signs of head trauma. A concussion is not diagnosed by a scan or only one test , though imaging tests may be used to rule out serious damage or severe head injury. The diagnostic tests your child may receive include:
Can a concussion cause a child to lose consciousness?
When this happens, the brain may not function normally, causing problems with vision, hearing, balance and memory. Your child may have a concussion without losing consciousness. There may not be any external signs of head trauma. And imaging tests such as CT and MRI often show no abnormalities.
Can a child return to sports after a concussion?
return to sports Ask your child’s doctor for written instructions about and recreational activities:when your child can safely return to sports. Getting approval from a doctor to return to play is important since playing with a concussion may slow recovery. A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain has fully healed can increase the chance for long-term problems.
Can a child take a short time off from school?
Your child may need to take a short If your child is having a dicult time off from school (or work, if recovery, talk with your child’s relevant). Ask the doctor for written school or employer about support instructions about when your child services that may be available. can safely return to school, work, and For most people, only short-term other activities, such as riding a bike or changes or support services are driving a car. needed as they recover from a concussion.
What happens if a child has a concussion?
Mood changes and irritability. Changes in behavior. Changes in personality. If you think your child has a concussion, seek medical attention. Your child's doctor will determine how serious the concussion is and when it's safe for your child to return to sports, school or other activities. With.
How to know if your child has a concussion?
Make sure your child's coach knows if your child has had a concussion. Your child shouldn't return to play until he or she has been cleared by a medical professional. Formal return-to-sport plans are recommended. Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include: Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head.
How to tell if you have a concussion?
Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include: 1 Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head 2 Nausea or vomiting 3 Balance problems or dizziness 4 Double or blurry vision 5 Sensitivity to light or noise 6 Feeling fatigued, sluggish, groggy or dazed 7 Difficulty paying attention 8 Memory problems 9 Confusion 10 Slowness in understanding and responding to others 11 Sleeping problems 12 Mood changes and irritability 13 Changes in behavior 14 Changes in personality
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
Common concussion symptoms can include: Difficulty with thinking skills, such as memory and attention. Dizziness. Fatigue. Headaches. Irritability. Children might develop complications or delay healing if they are reinjured before a concussion has healed.
What is post concussion syndrome?
Post-concussion syndrome is a complex disorder of concussion symptoms that last longer than the usual concussion recovery period. It's unclear why some people develop post-concussion syndrome and others don't, though some risk factors have been identified.
Can a concussion last longer than a concussion?
Another blow to the head while the initial concussion is healing can result in longer lasting or more-severe symptoms. Researchers continue to study other potential long-term effects of concussions. Having a concussion puts children at higher risk of having another. The effects of repeat concussions over years can multiply.
Can a concussion cause bleeding?
In rare cases, what is initially thought to be a concussion turns out to be a more severe brain injury with bleeding in or around the brain. Such bleeding can increase pressure on the brain and can be life-threatening.
What to do after discharge?
After discharge parents should follow up with their pediatrician, school staff, and coach to create a graduated plan for recovery. Multiple tools should be used to assess the individual patient’s recovery, as a single test has not proven to be superior.
Can a clinician use a biomarker for mTBI?
Clinicians should not use biomarkers (i.e.: SB100 calcium binding protein, serum tau, serum potassium, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal-hydrolase L1 and glial fibrillary acid protein) to diagnose children with mTBI, as there is currently insufficient evidence to support their use outside research settings. (Recommendation 6, high; level R recommendation) [5]
Is second impact syndrome real?
We know that second impact syndrome, though rare, is a real and appropriately feared complication. Balancing patient education with the anxiousness most young athletes feel to return to their competitive sport requires finesse. Ironically, this is where OUR headache as clinicians begins.
Can a patient be discharged from the ED?
The vast majority of patients, however, can be discharged home after receiving supportive care in the ED. Perhaps our most important intervention in the care of a concussion patient is the conversation with patient and family just prior to discharge.
What is CTE?
CTE is a neurodegenerative disorder linked to repetitive head trauma associated with a symptom profile including dementia, aggression, depression and other emotional changes.
Long-term effects of repetitive head trauma
The current medical data supports the idea that if recovery from a concussion is complete with no symptoms and your child is able to gradually return to play, then long-term effects are not expected.
It starts with education
There needs to be a focus on education—education on the sporting techniques that prevent head injuries and education on the importance of following rules like “hit with the head up” in football and “head with the elbows down” in soccer.
Important facts and tips on head trauma
The following points reflect the most up-to-date medical practices regarding head trauma and sports: