Concussions 101

What are concussions? 
A concussion is caused by a direct or indirect blow, trauma or jolt to the head, causing  the body and head accelerate or decelerate, resulting in dysfunction and a chemical imbalance in the brain. 
How do kids get concussions? 
Concussions are common in sports, especially in sports involving contact, such as soccer and basketball, or actual collisions, like football and hockey. Children can get a hit, blow or jolt to the head which can cause a concussion. Children seem to be more susceptible to concussions than adults. 
What are some symptoms of a concussion? 
Symptoms of a concussion can include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Balance problems
• Confusion
• Blurry vision
• Difficulty remembering
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Sensitivity to bright light or loud noises

What should I do if I suspect my child has a concussion? 
If you are present, remove your child from athletic activity IMMEDIATELY, and do not let them participate further.  Next,  seek medical attention immediately. You will need to provide your child’s medical history and his or her cause of injury. 
How are concussions diagnosed? 
There is no single test to diagnose a concussion. A health care provider makes the diagnosis of concussion based on a history of a blow to the head, a report of symptoms such as those described above, and the absence of signs or symptoms that would indicate a more serious problem, such as bleeding in the head or bruising of the brain. CT and MRI scans can be useful in making sure a child does not have a more serious problem, like bleeding in the head. Patients with concussions have normal CT or MRI scans. Patients also may be asked to perform tests on a computer (such as CogSport or ImPACT) to help assess how well their brain is working. 
How are concussions treated? 
Rest is ultimately the best way to treat concussions. This includes avoiding all exercise and sport activities until the symptoms are completely gone. Rest also includes “brain rest,” including spending a minimum amount of time on the phone or texting, and may include a reduced homework load for school-age patients (your child’s doctor can write a note asking teachers to reduce the workload while the child recovers). Brain rest also means no gaming or web-surfing.  Limited use of social media may be allowed as long as this does not worsen the patient’s symptoms. Rest for a concussion also includes plenty of sleep. Your health care provider will usually recommend or prescribe medicine for the headache, and may also recommend medicine to help with dizziness and nausea, or to help with sleep.