A concussion is a type of head injury most often caused by direct contact of an object with the skull, either from a fall or impact. Active toddlers are likely to experience a concussion by falling from stairs, chairs or tables or even during tumbling time. A concussion is also called a brain bruise because it occurs when the brain moves inside the skull and causes a sudden shift in blood and nerve activity in the brain. Mild concussions do not result in loss of consciousness, but they do have a defined set of symptoms.
Sudden Mental Changes
The rapid movement of the brain causes sudden changes in mental function even in grade 1, or mild, concussions. With mild concussions, confusion is the primary change, and it can last up to 15 minutes before resolving. If the mental change extends beyond 15 minutes, or if the confusion occurs with dizziness and stumbling or extra sleepiness in the toddler, moderate (grade 2) concussion might have occurred.
Repeated Vomiting
Sudden brain changes also cause a sick feeling in toddlers with mild concussions. This feeling typically presents as two or three episodes of vomiting, in one clustered time period, with mild concussion. Extra vomiting or vomiting later on after the first cluster has passed is a sign of more severe injury.
Headache
Any head injury, even without concussion, can cause a headache, and this symptom is common with a mild concussion as well. Pain might be general or might be at a site of swelling or bleeding on the scalp. Toddlers might not be able to express the specific headache, however, so parents should check for swelling or bleeding and ask the toddler whether a certain area of the head has pain.
