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July 23, 2024

Understanding Concussions in Children: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

One of the most harrowing experiences for a parent is to watch their child go through a concussion. The sheer uncertainty of not knowing what to do can feel like a handicap. Nobody wants to think that their child can go through something like this. But it is better to be prepared.

That’s why today we will discuss some of the most important things to help you understand concussions in children in a better way.


What is a Concussion?

Let’s start with the very basics, what is a concussion? It is a brain injury that affects the functioning of the brain, temporarily. Nerves and blood vessels stretch and bruise during a concussion. While a single concussion does not permanently damage the brain, multiple concussions over someone’s lifetime may cause structural changes in the brain.

Common symptoms of a concussion include dizziness, headache and confusion. It can be caused by a significant jolt or blow to the head or neck. They are often caused by sports-related injuries such as a direct blow to the face, head or body. We will understand more about the causes and symptoms later in this article.

People often think that a child needs to be unconscious to experience a concussion. However, this is not essential. Concussions are generally not life-threatening; however, their effects may be serious and last for days, weeks or even longer.


Symptoms of a Concussion

A concussion can happen immediately after a head injury or can develop over time following it. It’s important to note that different concussions can have different symptoms in the same person. Symptoms of a concussion include:

Physical Symptoms

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Low energy
  • Changes in vision
  • Problems with falling asleep
  • Bothered by noise or light

Cognitive Symptoms

  • Confusion
  • Slowed thinking
  • Changes in performance at school
  • Trouble paying attention

Emotional / Behavioural Symptoms

  • Sadness
  • Nervousness
  • Irritability
  • Getting easily frustrated or upset
  • Confusion
  • Any other personality changes

What Happens during a Concussion?

Concussions are a result of brain injury, which can happen due to getting hit on the head or falling from a fall. However, concussions can also happen without a blow to the head such as in a car accident when the head is forcefully snapped forward and backwards. Such strong movements cause blood and chemical flow changes in the brain, which in turn, can lead to symptoms of concussion.

The most common reason for children getting a concussion is playing sports. The risk is higher for kids who play sports such as ice hockey, football, soccer, field hockey and such kinds of sports. Concussions can also be caused due to falling down a bike, a fall, a fight or any other accident that can lead to a head injury.


How are Concussions Diagnosed?

Take your child to a healthcare provider if they suffer from a concussion. The healthcare might do the following things to diagnose a concussion:

  • Ask questions about symptoms, how and when the injury happened
  • Test concentration and memory
  • Conduct an examination to test coordination, reflexes and balance

Concussions do not show up on an MRI or CAT scan. However, they can still be done if the child:

  • Continue to vomit
  • Was knocked out
  • Was a part of a serious accident such as falling from a height or car crash
  • Has a worsening or severe headache

Recovery from a Concussion – What Can You Do?

Let’s talk about recovery now. The goal of healing after a mild concussion involves gradually returning to normal activities and finding a balance between doing too little and too much.

Your child should do minimal physical activities two days following the concussion, especially those that need a lot of concentration such as homework. Ensure that they relax at home and get adequate sleep so that they can recover. You can involve them in relaxing activities such as drawing, reading and talking to family and friends. These two days are crucial to recovery and hence minimal screen time is suggested.

After two days, they can start adding more activities such as going for a walk. However, any kind of sports activities should be avoided. Remember, your child may still have certain symptoms at this stage, which can get worse if they engage in heavy physical activities.

Ensure that your child stays away from all kinds of activities that can cause a head injury such as riding a bike or rough play till their symptoms are completely gone and the doctor permits them to do so. It is also important to prevent another concussion as repeated concussions can lead to serious issues.

Once your child feels well, and after the symptoms are completely gone, your child can return to school. However, avoid making this decision yourself. Ensure to speak to the doctor and create a plan for your little one to get back to school. You can speak to the school and arrange for a shorter day or lighter workload to start with.

Here are a few other things that you can do:

  • Ensure your child gets enough sleep and has a well-defined sleep routine. This means they should go to sleep and wake up at a similar time every day, at least during the healing period.
  • Well, it is almost impossible to keep children away from the screen these days. However, it is essential to do so at least for the first two days following the concussion. Then, once they start using the screen, ensure the time spent is not much or they don’t use it for prolonged periods. Watching TV, playing video games, texting or using social media can worsen the symptoms.
  • Avoid giving sugary drinks to your child during the healing phase.
  • Your child may have a headache for the first 2-3 days following the injury. Speak to your doctor about how to address this. Usually, a mild dose of ibuprofen is suggested, but do not give any medicines without consulting the doctor first.

Contact the doctor if your child:

  • Isn’t strong enough to resume school 5 days after the concussion.
  • Is unable to do the usual level of schoolwork even after 2 weeks of getting back to school.
  • Still has symptoms such as vomiting, headache, dizziness or confusion and if they are getting worse.
  • Needs medication for headaches even after a week following the concussion.
  • Has symptoms 4 weeks after the concussion.
  • Has another seizure or becomes unconscious.

Other Things that You Should Know

A concussion can be emotionally stressful for your child. They may not be able to figure out what’s going on with them and this can have emotional effects. Additionally, being away from school or not being able to go about their daily routine can be difficult to accept for them too.

This is the time they will need you the most. Handle this phase with care. Show support if they are unable to do their daily work and never force them to do anything. This can hamper the recovery process and can make the symptoms worse.

Don’t allow your child to get back to school or sports unless your doctor provides a clearance to do so. Another head injury before they have healed from the previous concussion can be dangerous. Repeated concussions can be very dangerous, so it is important to take steps to prevent them.


What should You Do if You Suspect that your Child has a Concussion?

It’s natural to feel helpless if your child faces an episode of concussion. Here are the things you can do in such a situation:

  • Take your child to a safe place and assess the situation. If your child was playing a game, take them out of the practice or game immediately. Ensure they don’t go back to play the same day the concussion happens. It is not recommended at all.
  • Take your child to a healthcare provider. Avoid judging the seriousness of the injury yourself.
  • If you witness another child getting a head injury, tell their parents, even if they are not experiencing a concussion. Taking precautions is always better.
  • Allow children to get back to play only after a healthcare professional permits.
  • If your child experiences multiple episodes of concussion, take the opinion of a medical professional and get a thorough checkup done.

What Should You Do in the First Few Days after a Concussion?

While mild head injuries rarely lead to serious medical problems, they are not impossible. Hence, it’s always better to take the help of a healthcare provider to take care of your child immediately after a concussion.

Keep a close watch on your child for the first one or two days following the injury, especially for severe or worsening injury. Avoid giving any medication at this point without the doctor’s approval.

If your child has any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately:

  • A severe headache that’s getting worse
  • Extreme sleepiness, confusion or having trouble waking up
  • Trouble in walking or talking
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Numbness, weakness or tingling in the legs and arms
  • Any unexplained change in behaviour
  • Numbness, tingling or weakness in arms or legs
  • A convulsion or seizure (arms and legs shake uncontrollably or stiffen)

How to Avoid Further Damage to the Brain?

The worst thing after a concussion is to get another one. This is the time the brain is most vulnerable and another injury can lead to disastrous results. The symptoms can aggravate and sometimes become long-lasting or even permanent. It can lead to conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (a brain disorder where the nerve cells in the brain degenerate). This is often seen in football players or players involved in other sports that are susceptible to repeated head injuries.

This is why, if a child gets hit in the head while playing a sport, it is most important to stop playing immediately and get it checked out. Even if they are not experiencing a concussion at that moment. This can help ensure that there’s no serious injury and avoid a concussion later.


How Can You Prevent a Concussion?

An instinct of parents is to protect their children. So when it comes to concussions, we know you must be wondering how can you prevent one.

It is not always possible to prevent a seizure. However, here are a few things you can do to reduce the likelihood of a concussion from happening:

  • Ensure your children use seat belts when they are in the car. If your child is younger, ensure to use a car seat at all times.
  • Supervise children when they are playing and discuss safety rules for them. Ensure to keep an eye on when they are playing on play structures, riding a bike or playing some contact sport such as hockey or football.
  • If your child plays in a sports team, ensure the team has well-defined safety rules. While this is the responsibility of the team coach, keeping an eye on your child won’t cause any harm. Ensure your child wears adequate safety gear such as helmets that can prevent a head injury.

A Final Word

One of the many issues concerning concussions in children is underreporting of symptoms. It has been observed that most children avoid reporting symptoms for the fear that they will not be allowed to play the sport for some time, they may not be allowed to go to school or similar reasons. Even after having a concussion, they shy away from talking about how they are feeling. And this can lead to disastrous results.

Hence, it is crucial to keep an eye out for symptoms that your child might be facing and report them to the doctor. Anything you feel is out of the ordinary needs to be reported. Addressing symptoms on time can help avoid major mishaps in the future.


Require expert advice or specialized treatment? Please arrange an appointment with our specialist.

Dr Mohd Raffiz Mohd Ali
Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon (Visiting)

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