Concussions

A concussion is a brain injury that causes temporary changes in the way the brain works. You might think they happen when someone is knocked unconscious while playing sports. But concussions can happen with any head injury, often without a loss of consciousness.
We often hear about head injuries in athletes, but most concussions happen off the playing field — in car and bicycle accidents, in fights, and even minor falls.

About Concussions

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. 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 bangs against the skull — for example, in a fall on a playground or a whiplash-type of injury — blood vessels can tear and the nerves inside the brain can be injured. These injuries can cause a concussion.
Anyone who has a head injury should be watched closely for signs of a concussion, even if the person feels OK. An undiagnosed concussion can put someone at risk for brain damage and even disability. So anyone who has any symptom of a concussion should be seen right away by a doctor.
Sports-related concussions get a lot of attention. Doctors now recommend these steps after a suspected sports concussion:

1. The player should immediately stop playing or practicing.
2. The player should get checked out by a doctor before returning to practice or play.

All injured body parts take time to heal, even brains. By resting and taking certain important precautions, kids with concussions usually recover within a week or two without lasting health problems.

Signs and Symptoms

Someone with a concussion may be knocked unconscious, but this doesn't happen in every case. In fact, a brief loss of consciousness or "blacking out" doesn't mean a concussion is any more or less serious than one where a person didn't black out.
If your child might have had a concussion, go to the emergency roomif you see any of these symptoms:

• loss of consciousness
• severe headache, including a headache that gets worse
• blurred vision
• trouble walking
• confusion and saying things that don't make sense
• slurred speech
• unresponsiveness (you can't wake your child)

Call your doctor right away to report other problems, such as vomiting, dizziness, headache, or trouble concentrating. Then you can get advice on what to do next. For milder symptoms, the doctor may recommend rest and ask you to watch your child closely for changes, such as a headache that gets worse.
Symptoms of a concussion don't always show up right away, and can develop within 24 to 72 hours after an injury. Young children usually have the same physical symptoms as older kids and adults, but cognitive and emotional symptoms (such as irritability and frustration) can appear later, be harder to notice, and last longer. Sleep-related issues are more common in teens.
Though most kids recover quickly from concussions, some symptoms — including memory loss, headaches, and problems with concentration— may linger for several weeks or months. It's important to watch for these symptoms and call your doctor if they last. Often, in these cases, children need further evaluation and treatment.
More Here!