Concussion in Children: What You Should Know and Do

A concussion is one of the most common brain injuries. Around two million children and young people are affected by this every year. This is a special type of injury that occurs when a blow to the head or other part of the body causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull.
It is possible to get a concussion after a seemingly minor injury, such as a strong blow from behind or a collision between two players in a football or soccer game.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion?

Because the injury may not seem that serious from the outside, it is important to know the symptoms of a concussion. There are many different possible symptoms including

• Ohnmacht (dies könnte ein Zeichen für eine ernstere Hirnverletzung sein)
• Kopfschmerzen
• Schwindel
• Veränderungen im Sehvermögen
• sich durch Licht oder Lärm gestört fühlen
• Verwirrung oder Orientierungslosigkeit
• Gedächtnisprobleme (z. B. Schwierigkeiten, sich an Details der Verletzung zu erinnern) oder Konzentrationsschwierigkeiten
• Gleichgewichts- oder Koordinationsprobleme
• Stimmungsschwankungen.

Some of these are visible to others, and some are felt by the person with the concussion. That's why it's important to know the signs and ask the right questions to a child who has suffered an injury.
Sometimes symptoms may not be immediately noticeable but may not appear until the days following the injury. The CDC's Heads Up The website has lots of great information about how to recognize a concussion.

How can further brain damage be prevented?

The main reason it's important to detect a possible concussion early is because the worst thing you can do after one concussion is get another one. The brain is vulnerable after a concussion; If it is injured again, symptoms may last longer - or even permanently, as in cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that has been observed in football players and others with repeated head injuries.
If there is a possibility that a child has suffered a concussion during a sports competition, he or she must stop playing – and seek medical attention. It is important to seek medical attention any time there is concern about a possible concussion, to ensure there is not a more serious brain injury, and to make a good assessment of symptoms so that they can be monitored over time. There are some there Screening questionnaires which are used by doctors and can be used again in the days and weeks after the concussion to see how the child is doing.

What helps children recover after a concussion?

Experts are struggling to figure out how to protect the brain after a concussion. For a long time, the recommendation was to rest and do as little as possible. That meant not playing sports, not going to school, not even reading or watching TV. As symptoms improved, restrictions were gradually lifted.
However, over time, research showed that so much rest was not only unnecessary, but also counterproductive. It turns out that reintegrating children into their daily lives and become active again, is safe and leads to faster recovery. Experts still recommend Rest and then gradually return to activity but the guidelines are not as strict as they used to be.
An important note: A doctor should make the decision to progress from rest to light activity and from there gradually progress to moderate and then regular activity depending on how the child is doing. This gradual process can extend over days, weeks, or longer, depending on the child's needs. Parents, coaches and schools can help support a child or young person return to school And Return to activities and sports.
Some children are quickly able to return to their normal activities. However, for others it may take weeks or even months. Schools and athletic trainers should work with children to support their recovery. Some children experience postconcussive syndrome with headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms. This is rare but can be very disabling.

How can parents help prevent concussions?

It's not always possible to prevent concussions, but there are things parents can do:

• Stellen Sie sicher, dass Kinder im Auto Sicherheitsgurte und andere geeignete Rückhaltesysteme verwenden.
• Halten Sie klare Sicherheitsregeln ein und beaufsichtigen Sie Kinder beim Spielen, insbesondere wenn sie Fahrrad fahren oder auf Bäume oder Spielgeräte klettern.
• Da mindestens die Hälfte der Gehirnerschütterungen beim Sport passieren, ist es wichtig, dass Mannschaften und Trainer die Sicherheitsregeln einhalten. Trainer sollten Techniken und Fähigkeiten vermitteln, um gefährliche Kollisionen und andere Verletzungen zu vermeiden. Sprechen Sie mit den Trainern Ihres Kindes darüber, was sie tun, um die Sicherheit der Spieler zu gewährleisten. Helme können zwar viele Kopfverletzungen verhindern, Gehirnerschütterungen verhindern sie jedoch nicht.