WARNING SIGNS OF CONCUSSIONS IN CHILDREN

Concussions have dominated the news lately, with many media outlets reporting the ongoing problems with brain injuries and professional football. What many people fail to realize, however, is that concussions are a leading cause of injury among children.

Moreover, a child’s developing brain can sustain severe injury from even a mild bump on the head. Children face a risk of serious injury from everyday things, such as playground equipment, participation in physical education classes, and sports practices and games.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that emergency room visits for children suffering from head injuries is on the rise. Between 2001 and 2009, emergency room visits for kids age 19 and younger increased by 57 percent. In 2010, nearly 250,000 children age 19 and below were diagnosed with a sports-related concussion or traumatic brain injury. Falls accounted for the majority of concussions for children between the ages of zero and nine, with 55 percent of all head trauma caused by falls in this age group. Blunt trauma was the cause of 24 percent of all traumatic brain injuries in children under age 14.

Warning Signs of Concussion

The CDC groups head injuries into two categories: “mild” and “severe.” Mild head injuries are described as a “brief change in mental status or consciousness” and include concussions. Severe head injuries, also known as traumatic brain injuries, are defined as those that cause “an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss after an injury.”

The warning signs of a concussion are broken down by the CDC into four categories: physical, emotional, sleep, and thinking. Because concussion affects everyone differently, it’s important to keep a close eye on a child who has sustained any type of head injury. If you suspect your child has suffered even a mild head injury, it’s imperative to obtain medical help right away. Symptoms of concussion include:

• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Mood changes, irritability
• Sleep disturbances
• Insomnia
• Listlessness, no energy
• Anxiety, nervousness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory loss
• Nausea, vomiting

The CDC also instructs parents to take a child to the emergency room if the child has suffered a head injury and exhibits any of the following signs:

• One pupil larger than the other
• Convulsions, seizures
• Decreased coordination
• Slurred speech
• Persistent headache
• Confusion, agitation
• Crying, inconsolable behavior
• Refusal to eat or nurse

Boston and Brockton Personal Injury Lawyers

The personal injury attorneys at Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. provide experienced legal representation to individuals and families throughout Massachusetts. If your child has experienced a concussion, call us today at (617) 742-1170 to speak to a personal injury attorney about your options.

This website has been prepared by Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. for informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.