- With Mayo Clinic sports medicine specialist
Jonathan T. Finnoff, D.O.
Definition (2)
- Concussion in children: What are the effects?
- Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
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Question
Concussion in children: What are the effects?
I'm concerned about childhood head injuries caused by contact sports. What are the possible effects of concussion in children?
Answer
from Jonathan T. Finnoff, D.O.
Most sports-related head injuries, such as concussions — which temporarily interfere with the way the brain works — are mild and allow for complete recovery. Still, concussion in children can pose serious health risks, ranging from temporary memory deficits to fatal brain swelling. A repeat concussion that occurs soon after an initial concussion can be especially risky.
Head injuries take time to heal. Often, however, concussion in children goes unrecognized. Another blow to the head while the initial concussion is healing can occasionally result in fatal brain swelling — a condition known as second impact syndrome. A young athlete who sustains a concussion also is at risk of developing postconcussion syndrome, which is characterized by persistent concussion symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, irritability and depression. These symptoms can be particularly confusing for a child, as well as his or her family and teachers, if the child doesn't realize he or she has had a concussion.
To protect your child from head injuries, insist on appropriate and properly fitted protective equipment — such as a helmet — during sports and other activities. Also, make sure your child knows that even a mild bump or blow to the head can cause a concussion, and that concussions don't always involve a loss of consciousness. Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include:
- Headache or a feeling of "pressure" in the head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Double or blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Feeling sluggish, groggy or dazed
- Difficulty paying attention
- Memory problems
- Confusion
- Numbness or tingling
If you think your child has sustained a concussion, seek medical help immediately. Your child's doctor will determine how serious the concussion is and when it's safe for your child to return to sports or other activities.
Next questionBump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
- Sports-related head injury. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/sports.asp. Accessed Nov. 30, 2009.
- Concussion in youth sports: A fact sheet for parents. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports/pdf/parents_Eng.pdf. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Concussion in youth sports: A fact sheet for athletes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports/pdf/athletes_Eng.pdf. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Finoff JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Accessed Dec. 28, 2009.
- McCrory P, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: 3rd international conference on concussion in sport held in Zurich, November 2008. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2009;19:185.
- Heads up: Facts for physicians about mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/Physicians_Tool_Kit.htm. Accessed Dec. 29, 2009.
- Randolph C, et al. What are the real risks of sport-related concussion, and are they modifiable? Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2009;15:512.
- Theye F, et al. "Heads up": Concussions in high school sports. Clinical Medicine & Research. 2004;2:165.
- Field M, et al. Does age play a role in recovery from sports-related concussion? A comparison of high school and collegiate athletes. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2003;142:546.
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