Concussions
A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by any blow to the head, face, neck or body that causes shaking or jarring of the brain inside the skull. They are sometimes called the “invisible injury” because their effects do not appear on tests you get in the hospital.
Everyone experiences a concussion differently. Symptoms can occur immediately or even a few days after the injury. The symptoms may include one or more of the following:
Physical
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- “Pressure in the head”
- Headache
- Balance problems
- Sensitivity to light
- Neck pain
- Seizure or convulsion
- Blurred vision
- Loss of consciousness
Cognitive
- Sensitivity to noise
- Feeling slowed down
- Fatigue or low energy
- Difficulty remembering
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Amnesia
- Insomnia – unable to sleep
- Poor sleep quality
- Sleeping too much
Emotional
- Irritability
- Nervous or anxious
- More emotional
- Feeling like in a “fog”
- “Don’t feel right”
- Sadness1
Common Signs and Symptoms in Toddlers and Infants
Concussions are especially dangerous in young children because they may not be able to tell you how they’re feeling. You’ll need to watch them carefully for any signs and symptoms, such as:
- dazed appearance
- listlessness and tiring easily
- irritability and crankiness
- loss of balance and unsteady walking
- excessive crying
- headache or rubbing of the head
- change in eating or sleeping patterns
- lack of interest in favorite toys
- vomiting
- seizures
If you think your child has a concussion, remove your child from the activity immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How is a Concussion Treated?
Concussions are treated with rest, which means resting physically and mentally. Healing from a concussion can take a great deal of time, so be patient. Returning to daily activities should only be done with approval from your physician or Nurse Practitioner. 2
1American Academy of Pediatrics. Concussions: What Parents Need to Know. (2023). Retrieved from
https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/sports-injuries/Pages/Concussions.aspx
2British Journal of Sports Medicine. Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport - the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016 Retrieved from
http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2017/04/26/bjsports-2017-097699
3Parachute Canada. (August 1st, 2017). After a Concussion Guideline Return to Sport. Retrieved from
http://horizon.parachutecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Concussion-ReturnToSport.pdf
4Mayo Clinic . (2023). Concussion. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594