Children tend to bounce around with vigorous play, particularly in their early years. They likewise tend to be prone to slips, falls, trips, and collisions that defy our agreement of the laws of physics, with rarely a major sprain or broken os. But what happens when a child suffers a hard blow to the head? What if your kid suffers a concussion and they are besides young or cannot tell you what they are experiencing?

What Is A Concussion?

Also known every bit a TBI (Traumatic Encephalon Injury), a concussion is substantially a significant type of encephalon injury that interferes with the brain's normal role. Well-nigh are temporary and resolve completely, though some concussions caused by severe blows to the caput can crusade permanent harm, especially if untreated.

What Happens If A Concussion Isn't Treated?

Without treatment, a TBI has the potential to crusade long-term complications. This includes chronic headaches, memory issues, and vertigo. TBIs can fifty-fifty lead to something chosen "Post-Concussion Syndrome" which causes headaches, dizziness, mood swings, and a peculiar type of brain fog that sometimes persists for months afterward the initial incident.

What Causes A Concussion?

A concussion is typically caused by a jarring blow to the head or a autumn where the head is moved violently and apace from front to back or side to side. This causes bruising and swelling in the brain that can interfere with normal brain office.
A concussion tin can exist particularly distressing in young children who tin't describe their symptoms. It's also worth noting that babies, toddlers, and immature children may display dissimilar symptoms of concussion.

Signs Of A Concussion In A Baby

Information technology tin can be especially difficult to recognize the signs of a concussion in a baby, as they cannot depict what they are experiencing.

The following are common warning signs of a baby with a concussion:

  • Frequent vomiting
  • Crying when they move their head
  • Irritability
  • Sleeping significantly more than or less than usual
  • A noticeable bump or big bruise on the caput
  • Signs Of A Concussion In A Toddler

Toddlers accept better knowledge and verbal skills, and tin can occasionally explain their symptoms, or at least inkling you into the fact that they are experiencing something out of the ordinary. Typical symptoms of a toddler with a concussion include:

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Mood swings and frustration
  • Changes in sleeping more or sleeping less
  • Excessive crying
  • A loss of interest in toys and games they enjoy
  • Signs Of Concussion In A 2+-Yr-Old Child

Children over the age of 2 can oftentimes vocalize that they are experiencing symptoms out of the ordinary, and may exist able to indicate that they suffered a blow to the caput or a difficult fall. Common indicators of a concussion in a child 2 years or older include:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Complaining of dizziness or headache
  • Residue problems
  • Confusion
  • Complaining of double or blurry vision
  • Increased sensitivity to light or noise
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty remembering simple things
  • Being slow to respond questions
  • Irritability or changes in mood
  • Drowsiness or excessive sleeping
  • Changes in their usual sleep patterns
  • Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

When Should I Phone call A Medico About My Child's Concussion?

It tin can be hard to know when to call a dr. about a suspected concussion in a kid . You might even doubt yourself after seeing them autumn downwardly, get injured, or suffer a accident to the caput. If y'all suspect that your child, toddler, or baby has suffered a concussion, you should try asking yourself the post-obit questions:

  • Is my child behaving normally?
  • Does my child seem overly drowsy?
  • Is my child showing overt signs of distress or injury?
  • Is my child vomiting ofttimes?

If your child is active, awake, warning, and happy, and doesn't seem to take more than than a mild crash-land to the caput, then they most likely practise not have a concussion. On the other manus, a child who is lethargic, pale, cranky or airsickness several times needs firsthand medical attention. If you have any concerns, y'all might want to call your physician or nurse practitioner to seek further advice.

Should I Take My Child To Urgent Care Or The ER For A Suspected Concussion?

  • Some of the more distressing signs of a kid who needs urgent attention for a suspected concussion include:
  • Frequent or uncontrolled vomiting later suffering a blow to the head
  • Losing consciousness for more than than a infinitesimal.
  • They are hard to wake up
  • The kid has a notable seizure
  • Pupils that are significantly different in size
  • An unsteady gait when they walk

Tin I Permit My Child Slumber After A Suspected Concussion?

It's alright to let your kid nap if they're sleepy after bumping their head, but you should monitor them very closely and watch for signs of a concussion afterward they wake up.

How Is A Child Concussion Treated?

A doc will perform an exam to determine if in that location is significant head trauma or bleeding in the brain later a traumatic brain injury.

With well-nigh pocket-size to moderate concussions, the child will recover with balance and decreased activity, though it can take upwards to a month or more than for the brain to fully heal. Your medico might periodically perform tests to monitor your child'due south progress during a prolonged recovery.

While their brain is healing you lot should limit or ideally completely eliminate their exposure to screens. Screens that emit blueish low-cal such as flatscreen TVs, tablets, smartphones, and similar devices are especially apropos.

Information technology's important to permit them sleep every bit needed and allow them to sleep in. Sleep is one of the brain'due south most effective ways to heal.

Futurity Concussion Prevention Is Critical

A growing trunk of enquiry on traumatic brain injuries has establish that further concussions can potentially cause permanent brain damage, especially if they occur inside a twelvemonth after the beginning concussion. If possible, take steps to prevent farther blows to the head, such equally securing items your child might accidentally pull down on themselves.

If yous happen to see signs of regression in your child's development, or chronic symptoms such as grogginess, defoliation or pregnant mood swings after a concussion, you lot should make an appointment with your pediatrician.