Pediatric concussion, Part 1
Participating in sports has a significant number of physical, mental, educational, and eventual career benefits.1 However, there is always a risk of injury with participation. Head injuries leading to concussions is a growing area of concern due to the potential long-term effects. Young children may not have the vocabulary to describe their symptoms to you and therefore, diagnosis relies on a combination of child interview by an experienced practitioner, parent interview, and child evaluation. Current diagnostic criteria for children under the age of 12 has been identified for healthcare providers in the Child Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (Child SCAT-5).2 Parents can also access the free Concussion Recognition Tool 5 for a quick reference guide to not only identifying a concussion but identifying an emergency.3
There are a few symptoms that you might want to notice or ask about after a head injury: complaints of headaches, dizziness, feeling like the room is spinning, altered or double vision, and/or nausea. You may also notice other changes like a change in your child’s mood such as unexplained sadness or irritability, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, excessive tiredness or rapid fatigue, as well as trouble concentrating, following instructions, or completing tasks. While this is not an exhaustive list of symptoms, these are some of the most common. It is important to understand that “just do not feel right” is considered a symptom and is enough to warrant investigation into your child’s condition.2-3
Dr Rubin is both pediatric and sports certified, so has a unique skill set to help kids with post-concussion syndrome. Let us know how we can help you and your child get back to school and sports the right way.
References
1. PCSFN Science Board. Benefits of Youth Sports.; 2020. https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/YSS_Report_OnePager_2020-08-31_web.pdf
2. Davis GA, Purcell L, Schneider KJ, et al. The Child Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5th Edition (Child SCAT5). British Journal of Sports Medicine. Published online April 26, 2017:bjsports-2017-097492. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097492
3. Concussion recognition tool 5©. British Journal of Sports Medicine. Published online April 26, 2017:bjsports-2017-097508CRT5. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097508crt5