From the Triage Desk

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a minor traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to light
• Dizziness
• Impaired coordination
• Vision disturbances (double vision, blurred vision)

While we typically associate concussions with high-impact or high-risk sports, they can happen to anyone (from a fall off the bed, hitting your head against a cabinet accidentally, playing aggressively with siblings, etc). As the medical community has learned more about concussions, our treatment methods have evolved as well.

When a child (or any individual) sustains a head injury leading to symptoms of a concussion, there are a number of treatment recommendations which include:

• Resting from activities and screens for the first few days
• Avoiding all strenuous activities initially, with a gradual increase back to normal as tolerated
• Staying well hydrated
• Eating small, protein rich meals throughout the day
• Reducing school time/workload initially (going to school a few hours a day at first and accommodations for homework until the patient is back to normal)
• Avoiding bright lights

For more mild concussions, a diagnosis can be made based on assessment and discussion of symptoms. In some cases, imaging might be recommended. If ever your child has a concussion or suffers from any blow to the head and has increasing head pain, vomiting, loss of consciousness, or vision loss, they should be seen immediately at the Emergency Department. If your child has minor/common concussion symptoms, please call our office to speak to a triage nurse to determine next steps.

Remember to always encourage your child to wear a helmet when biking, skiing, skating, sledding etc. 

Stay safe and have fun!

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355600