Concussion Symptoms Every Parent Should Know
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Updated October 27, 2014.
If your child experiences some of these concussion symptoms or signs during sports practice or game play (even following a seemingly minor injury), he or she should stop playing immediately and be evaluated by a health professional.
Once a child has been diagnosed with a concussion, he needs both physical and cognitive rest before he can play sports again. You'll also need to be even more vigilant about trying to prevent concussions in the future. Sustaining a second injury before the first one is fully healed could lead to second-impact syndrome, a dangerous complication.
Source:
Halstead MD, Mark E.; Walter MD, Kevin D.; and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Clinical Report--Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents, Pediatrics 2010, 126:597–615 (reaffirmed October 2014).
Updated October 27, 2014.
If your child experiences some of these concussion symptoms or signs during sports practice or game play (even following a seemingly minor injury), he or she should stop playing immediately and be evaluated by a health professional.
Concussions - Symptoms Your Child May Report
- Headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Dizziness or trouble with balance
- Visual disturbances (double vision, blurriness)
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to sound/noise
- Drowsiness
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Trouble concentrating; feeling "foggy"
- Trouble with memory
Concussions - Symptoms You May Observe
- Appearing dazed or stunned
- Clumsy movements
- Confusion; answers questions slowly, or repeats questions
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep disturbances (sleeping more or less than usual)
- Forgetfulness (may forget events from before or after the injury)
- Loss of consciousness, even for a very brief period
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Nervousness
Once a child has been diagnosed with a concussion, he needs both physical and cognitive rest before he can play sports again. You'll also need to be even more vigilant about trying to prevent concussions in the future. Sustaining a second injury before the first one is fully healed could lead to second-impact syndrome, a dangerous complication.
Source:
Halstead MD, Mark E.; Walter MD, Kevin D.; and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Clinical Report--Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents, Pediatrics 2010, 126:597–615 (reaffirmed October 2014).
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