cally noticed right after the injury, but some
might not be recognized until days or weeks
later.
What happens after a
sports-related concussion?
Sports-related concussions often result in
mental and physical symptoms, such as inability
to concentrate, forgetfulness,
headache, fatigue and dizziness. For many
athletes, the symptoms disappear after about
10 days. They typically hardly ever last
more than several months. In some cases
though, concussions lead to persistent complaints
of physical, mental, emotional and
behavioral symptoms, sometimes referred to
as post-concussion syndrome. We do not
know whether persistent post-concussive
symptoms result from primarily medical or
psychological causes. In rare cases, when repeated
concussions occur over a brief interval,
athletes may suffer from second impact
syndrome, a pathological response of the
brain that can be life-threatening if not
treated promptly. Parents should seek careful
evaluation and management of any
sports-related concussion.
How should a sports-related
concussion be evaluated?
Concussions are typically managed according
to their severity. Immediately after
a concussion, medical evaluation is needed
to determine a child’s vital signs and level
of consciousness and to rule out any other
injuries, such as those to the spine. Recent
guidelines indicate that a hospital emergency
department should evaluate any child
who loses consciousness as a result of
trauma during a sporting event.
In cases of less severe concussion, athletes
are typically evaluated on site rather
than in hospital emergency departments.
There are a variety of approaches to the
“sideline” assessment of concussion.
Guidelines are also available to assist in
deciding when a child is ready to return to
play after a concussion. Presently most recommendations
strongly advise against return
to play on the day of injury. High school
athletes’ recovery times for a sports concussion
are longer than college athletes' recovery
times.
High school athletes who sustain a concussion
are three times more likely to sustain
a second concussion. Lack of proper
diagnosis and management of concussion
may result in serious long-term consequences,
or risk of coma or death.
Because of the potential long-term consequences
of sports concussion, it is important
that athletes, coaches and parents know
as much as possible about how to recognize
a concussion when it occurs.
Symptoms are not always obvious. Although
it is commonly assumed that concussions
cause loss of consciousness, many
people with concussions have not been
“knocked out.”
Concussion causes a variety of symptoms.
These may appear right away, or may
be delayed for several days after the injury.
Some symptoms are physical, such as
drowsiness. Others are cognitive, like memory
loss. In many cases, people with concussions
are more emotional than usual.
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