Concussions are a type of brain injury that commonly occurs after a blow to the head. Concussions interfere with typical brain functioning, causing mild symptoms such as headache to severe symptoms such as loss of consciousness or memory. These symptoms can show up immediately---or not for hours or days---after an accident has occurred, so it is important to monitor symptoms closely and contact a health care professional if they worsen or do not go away.
Common Symptoms
Concussions occurring as a result of a blow to the head can cause a number of common symptoms that develop immediately or soon after the injury. These symptoms include confusion or temporary disorientation, headache, amnesia---including forgetting what happened leading up to the injury---dizziness, ringing in the ears, slurred speech and fatigue.
Delayed Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic advises that certain symptoms of a concussion may not appear until hours or even days after the injury occurred. Some of these symptoms include problems with concentration, impairment in memory, sensitivity to light and noise, irritability, depression and disturbances in sleeping behavior.
Symptoms in Children and Teenagers
It is common for toddlers and young children to incur head injuries while playing; however, because they are not fully developed, they may not be able to communicate their symptoms clearly to adults. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a concussion to look for in children include irritability or crankiness, the onset of balance problems and unsteady walking, unusual behavioral changes such as a loss of interest in their favorite toys, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, restlessness and fatigue that comes easily.
Older youth and teenagers also run the risk of head injuries while playing sports. According to the Centers for Disease Control, symptoms to look for after a sports-related injury include the youth appearing dazed or stunned, demonstrating confusion about the status of the game or their position, suddenly moving clumsily, losing consciousness even momentarily, answering questions slowly and forgetting things such as what happened before or after the fall or new instructions related to the game.
The Mayo Clinic recommends seeking medical care if your child experiences a loss of consciousness, seizures or convulsion, worsening headache, confusion, slurred speech, persistent vomiting, severe behavioral changes that include extreme irritability or difficulty waking the child, significant motor coordination impairment, lasting or recurrent dizziness, blood or fluid discharge from the nose or ears. Also, if you notice your child's other wounds or scratches will not stop bleeding even after pressure has been applied for 10 minutes or longer, you should call your doctor.
Serious Symptoms
Sometimes, concussions can be severe enough to require medical attention. If you experience symptoms such as dilated pupils, pupils of uneven size, vision disturbances, nausea, vomiting, persistent ringing in the ears or memory loss, loss of taste or smell, or unrelenting headaches, dizziness or impaired balance, you should seek medical attention.
