Concussion in Children
A lot of people believe only adults get concussion –they believe children’s brains are different and if they take a hit to the head, children can just ‘bounce’ back-up and get on with things.
Or, if a child suffers a concussion they are being ‘soft’ and should just get on with things. And, that it is safe for children to return to sport as soon as they stop complaining of any symptoms.
All of this is wrong!
Children are just as, if not more, likely to suffer a concussion and it is crucial to manage it correctly to stop long lasting negative effects.
After any blow to the head anyone should stop what they were doing, take some time to assess how they are and get checked-out if needed – if in any doubt, sit out!
Also, only because someone (adult or child) stops complaining of symptoms does not mean their brain has recovered – it can take 8/9 times longer for this to happen!
Thankfully, with the correct management the brain has been shown to recover from a concussion.
HOWEVER, should the brain take another blow (which doesn’t have to be as hard as the original trauma) before the nerves in the brain have recovered, then secondary impact syndrome can occur which can lead to permanent brain damage or even death.
There are ways to help keep children safe while playing sports and being active - for further information, if have any questions or need to book an appointment just get in touch!
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