Concussion in children

Concussion in children

Concussion is a harmless condition that is seen frequently in young children. If concussion is suspected in children, a doctor should be contacted to rule out serious conditions.

What is a concussion?

This is a very common head injury that can occur after a physical trauma. The condition can lead to a short period of loss of memory and consciousness as a result of a blow to the head or neck.

Causes

There is a high incidence of concussion in young children. The most common causes in children between 5-14 years of age are sports and cycling accidents. Common causes of concussion in adults are falls and driving accidents.

Symptoms of concussion in children

• Typical symptoms of a concussion are:

• Short loss of consciousness (up to 10-15 minutes).

• Short period of amnesia before and after the accident.

• Nausea, possibly with vomiting and vomiting.

• Headache.

• Fatigue.

• Dizziness.

• Confusion.

• Impaired attention or ability to concentrate.

It is common to experience these symptoms in the first few days after the injury, but the symptoms will disappear by themselves within 1 week.

Good advice for concussions in children

• Contact the doctor if concussion is suspected. The condition is harmless in itself, but it is important to rule out other serious conditions such as swelling of the brain or cerebral haemorrhage. The doctor will therefore give further advice and possibly consider hospitalization if necessary.

• Children who have been exposed to a head injury should lie down and rest with their head slightly elevated. Nor should they watch TV, play games or read books. This should be done until they feel better and until the headache and nausea have disappeared.

• If the child has to be moved, you should carry the child in a lying position.

• Stay with the child and talk calmly.

• Check the child's breathing and consciousness.

Treatment

The treatment is rest and monitoring for the first 24-48 hours.

During the first night, the child must be watched frequently and woken up once every 2-3 days. hour.

Sports activities should be avoided for 2-3 weeks after the injury.

TV, computer games and reading should be limited in the first few days until the child feels well. A maximum of ½ hour at a time is recommended, with a break of a couple of hours in between.

It is common for the child to experience a headache in the first days after the injury. If the child has a headache, you can use Paracetamol (Paracet and Pinex), which is an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Sources: Helsenorge, Store Norske Lexikon, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Health Informatics