March is
Brain Injury
Awareness Month.

Learn how to
prevent and spot a
concussion and
help your child
heal from one.

According to a 2016 study published
it has to do with genetic risk factors.”
in “Pediatrics,” the official journal of the
For example, children with a history of
American Academy of Pediatrics, 1.1 to
migraines, anxiety or depression can take
1.9 million sports- and recreation-related
longer to recover from concussion.

concussions occur each year in children age
18 and younger.

How will the doctor know
What are the signs and
symptoms of concussion?
The most common immediate symptoms
of concussion are headaches, nausea,
confusion, visual changes and dizziness.

“Dizziness is one of the symptoms
that can lead to a prolonged recovery,”
says Womble. “So if your child is reporting
dizziness, he or she needs to be evaluated.”
But symptoms won’t always show up
right away. “Generally, symptoms can
present up to 72 hours after injury,” Dr.

Womble says.

Where should I take my child
to be evaluated?
If your child has an excruciating headache
with nausea and vomiting, is acting very
confused or differently than normal, or has
significant emotional changes, take her to
the emergency room. They’ll likely need
a CT scan to rule out a more significant
injury like a brain bleed, which is rare.

Otherwise, Womble recommends
following up with your child’s pediatrician
or a concussion clinic three days after
the injury.

How are concussions
treated? What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury that can
occur when someone receives a blow to
the head or a hit to the body that causes
the brain to bounce around in the skull.

This can create chemical changes in the
brain or stretch and damage brain cells,
causing a temporary disruption in normal
brain function.

when my child is recovered
and can return to play?
Your doctor will do a battery of tests
to assess your child’s verbal and visual
memory, processing speed and reaction
time, and to make sure their vestibular
and ocular motor systems appear normal.

The doctor will also want to see that
your child is asymptomatic while resting
and during physical and cognitive
activity. Once your child meets those
milestones, they’ll likely be cleared to
return to their sport.

Can concussions cause
long-term effects?
Though there’s still a lot of research to be
done on that, concussions are considered
treatable, and multiple concussions don’t
necessarily put kids at risk for long-term
effects. What can put them at risk, though,
is not properly managing and treating the
concussion. “A lot of parents push to get kids back
in the game sooner than they need to,”
Womble says. “Then the kid can be injured
again really quickly.”
How can parents help
prevent concussion in kids?
Concussion prevention goes beyond
making sure your child wears protective
equipment such as helmets and face
shields. “One of the most important ways to keep
kids safe is to make sure they have good
form and technique,” says Womble. “The
coaches should make sure kids are working
on those areas, but parents should also help
make sure their kids are in good physical
shape to be able to engage in sports the
right way.”
This includes making sure kids stay well
hydrated and eat healthfully and regularly,
especially when routines change, such as
during travel tournaments.

Despite the concussion risk, Dr. Womble
says it’s important not to prevent your
child from playing sports. The physical,
cognitive and social benefits are far
How long will it take
too great. But knowing the signs and
my child to recover?
symptoms of concussion—and what to do
“General recovery from concussion is about
one to four weeks,” says Womble. “But there if your child gets one—will help them fully
can be cases that are more prolonged. A lot of recover and get back in the game. n
Most concussions can be managed at home.

On the first night, Womble says to let your
child get a full night’s sleep. “It’s an old
wives’ tale to wake your child up every
hour. Kids need good sleep after an injury,”
she says.

After the initial 24 hours, she says, “We
want to start getting kids back on their
normal schedule with breaks and certain
restrictions.” It is especially important for
kids recovering from a concussion to stay
hydrated and to eat well.

Some children, however, may need
additional therapy. Kids with a lot of
dizziness may require vestibular therapy,
for example, while those with vision
changes might need vision therapy.

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