Concussion . It is an injury to the brain that can cause a severe headache or loss of consciousness .
Summary
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- 1 Causes, incidence and risk factors
- 2 Symptoms
- 1 Signs of emergency
- 3 Signs and tests
- 4 Treatment
- 5 Forecast
- 6 Complications
- 7 Prevention
- 8 Source
Causes, incidence and risk factors
In the United States , there are over a million cases of concussion each year. A concussion can occur when the head hits an object or a moving object hits the head. Concussions can result from falls, sports activities, and car accidents. Significant jerking of the brain in any direction can cause unconsciousness. How long the person remains unconscious may be an indication of the severity of the concussion. Often, victims have no memory of the events that preceded the injury or that occurred immediately after regaining consciousnessand more serious injuries produce longer periods of amnesia. Generally, the maximum loss of memory of the person occurs immediately after the injury. Some of this memory recovers as time passes; however, full recall of the event may never occur. There may be bleeding in or around the brain with any impact to the head, whether or not loss of consciousness occurs. If a person has received a blow to the head , the signs indicating possible brain injury should be carefully observed. Things to watch for include repetitive vomiting, uneven pupils, confused mental status or varying levels of consciousness, seizure-like activities, weakness on one side of the body, or inability to wake up coma . If any of these signs occur, seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms
A concussion results from a significant blow to the head. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of memory amnesiaabout events surrounding the injury
- Headache
Emergency signs
- Persistent loss of consciousness(coma)
- Altered level of consciousness(sleepy, hard to wake up or similar changes)
- Persistent confusion
- Seizures
- Repetitive vomiting
- Uneven pupils
- Unusual eye movements
- Muscle weakness on one or both sides
- Walking or walking abnormalities
Signs and tests
A neurological examination may show abnormalities. The tests that can be performed are:
- CT scan of the head
- MRI of the head
Treatment
The doctor does an “initial” neurological evaluation to determine treatment for an uncomplicated concussion. If a blow to the head during a sports activity produces a severe headache, confusion (lightheadedness), or unconsciousness, a trained person must determine when the athlete can return to play. If a child or young adult has passed out, they should not resume their sports activities for a period of three months. Studies have shown that there is an increase in the rate of brain injuries and occasional deaths of people who have suffered previous concussions with loss of consciousness. A concussion complicated with bleeding or brain damage should be treated in a hospital.
Forecast
If the concussion was uneventful, a full recovery is expected, although prolonged light-headedness, irritability, headache, and other symptoms may occur.
Complications
- Intracerebral hemorrhage
- Brain injury
Prevention
Paying attention to safety measures, such as wearing proper athletic equipment like bicycle helmets and seat belts, reduces the risk of a head injury.
