What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury. |Concussions are most commonly caused by a bump or blow to the head, but, can also be caused by a sudden deceleration or acceleration of the head. In either scenario, the brain, suspended inside the skull |and surrounded by fluid, continues to travel with momentum until it “bangs” up against the skull – causing a brain-bruising injury – or concussion. What may seem to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right after the injury, or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks |after the injury. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical |attention right away. Common symptoms include: headache, dizziness, feeling foggy, nausea, fatigue and confusion. Common signs include memory loss, a loss of balance and coordination, and changes in personality. Concussion severity varies widely – |serious injuries may show few symptoms.
Although less common, bleeding in the brain can occur with some head injuries. Loss of consciousness, mental status |deterioration and worsening symptoms raise the concern for a bleeding injury. A child does not need to lose consciousness |to suffer a concussion. In fact, less than 10 percent of athletes who suffer concussions lose consciousness.