Concussion in a child: symptoms and treatment Komarovsky

Head impacts and blows to the head occur repeatedly in every child's life.

A fundamental feature of children in the first year of life is the fact that the amount of fluid in the cranial cavity is much higher than that in older children and (or) adults. In addition, the baby’s brain is not tightly closed in the cranium, since there are fontanelles, as well as pliable and movable sutures between the bones of the skull. All this creates the possibility of shock absorption and to some extent reduces the risk of impacts to the head and head.

The vast majority of head injuries end safely and are not accompanied by any serious consequences. However , any blow to the head (to the head) has the potential to be taken seriously.

, since very dangerous damage to the brain substance and bleeding in the cranial cavity are possible.

A very common specific condition that occurs after a head injury is called a concussion.

Medical science still does not know exactly what happens to the brain during a concussion. It is assumed that during an injury, the brain substance is shaken and hits the skull from the inside. As a result, connections between brain cells and its parts are disrupted. All this is accompanied by very specific symptoms, primarily disorders of consciousness. The fundamental point is that the integrity of the brain tissue is not damaged during a concussion.

A head injury may be accompanied by damage to the brain substance with the development of edema and hemorrhage. In this case, they talk about a brain contusion

Severe swelling of brain tissue and intracranial hematomas lead to a very dangerous condition - compression of the brain

Shake

,
bruise
and
compression
of the brain are united by such a concept as
traumatic brain injury
.

Traumatic brain injury can be closed

(without violating the integrity of the bones of the skull) and
open
(respectively, with violating the integrity of the bones).
Between the inner surface of the skull bones and the brain matter itself is the dura mater. An open traumatic brain injury with damage to the dura mater is called penetrating
.

If, as a result of the impact, only soft tissues are damaged (skin, subcutaneous tissue above

bones of the skull) and there is no disorder of consciousness, then this condition is called
head contusion
.

All of the technical terms listed are medical diagnoses. The diagnosis is made by a doctor.

However, there are very clear symptoms that indicate that a head injury is potentially dangerous and requires mandatory medical attention.

The task of parents is to know these symptoms and provide emergency assistance.

Seek medical help if following a head injury:

disturbance of consciousness of any severity and any duration;
speech disorders;
inappropriate behavior;
unusual drowsiness;
intense headache that persists for more than one hour after the injury;
convulsions;
more than one episode of vomiting;
dizziness and/or imbalance that persists for more than one hour after injury;
inability to move an arm or leg, weakness in an arm or leg;
pupils of different sizes;
the appearance of dark (dark blue) spots under the eyes or behind the ears;
bleeding from the nose or ears;
discharge of colorless or bloody fluid from the nose or ears; After the injury, the child cried, and while crying, like all children, he sniffled. I stopped crying, but I still had a runny nose, which was not there before the injury. To the doctor!

any, even minor, disturbances from the sensory organs.

After an injury, hearing becomes worse or something is wrong, fog or double vision, unusual taste in the mouth, something doesn’t smell right, decreased skin sensitivity, goosebumps... See a doctor!

Regardless of the symptoms, seeking medical help is necessary if a head injury was sustained while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

Dangerous symptoms may not appear immediately, so parents should closely monitor their child for at least 24 hours after a head injury, even if the injury appears to be minor.

If after the injury the child calms down and falls asleep, he should be woken up every 2-3 hours and asked simple questions (what is your name?, etc.).

Once again, any head injury is potentially dangerous. The slightest doubt - see a doctor!

Emergency care for head injury

There are no dangerous symptoms:

calm the child down;
try your best to limit physical activity (lay down and read, avoid active games, etc.);
Apply cold
to the injured area.

If dangerous symptoms are detected:

Assess the state of breathing and circulation, and in critical condition, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
if breathing and blood circulation are preserved, but there is no consciousness, try to keep the child in a supine position, on a hard, flat surface, support the head with your hands; Monitor breathing carefully: if breathing is difficult in this position due to vomiting or excess saliva, place the child in a stable position on his side
. When turning, hold your head, trying to avoid its rotation, excessive throwing back and lateral tilt;
while waiting for help (optimally in the supine position, even before turning to a stable lateral position), it is advisable to immobilize the cervical spine
;
if the child is conscious, wait for help in the supine position without a pillow;
do not give food or drink;
Do not move the child unless absolutely necessary.

When stopping bleeding:

follow the general rules for stopping bleeding
and
treating a wound
;
at the slightest suspicion of damage to the skull bones, categorically avoid direct pressure on the wound - cover the wound with a dressing material, do not remove foreign bodies from the wound.

What is a concussion

A concussion is considered a mild degree of severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is not accompanied by a violation of the integrity and trauma of the skull bones, as well as damage to the nerve tissue of the brain. Children aged four to fifteen years are most susceptible to pathology, since it is during this period that maximum physical activity occurs.

Most often, children from four to eight years old are seen by pediatric traumatologists.

Concussions are often detected in newborns (about five percent of cases) and infants (accounting for up to twenty-five percent of cases).

Concussions most often occur in children between the ages of four and eight years.

The main feature of concussion in children is that the condition is much milder than in adults. The older the child, the more difficult it is for him to cope with the manifestations of pathology. This is primarily due to anatomical features, namely the structure of the cranium and the lack of structure of the brain. An important role is played by special compensatory mechanisms that protect brain tissue and allow for rapid recovery. These include the presence of fontanelles in the skull, softness and elasticity of incompletely formed cranial bones, elasticity of cerebral blood vessels, an incompletely formed central nervous system (CNS), and more.

Many people underestimate the danger of the condition. But in vain. After all, even with timely treatment, the child may subsequently develop various neurological pathologies, not to mention those situations when treatment for a concussion was delayed or was not carried out at all.

Causes and factors for the development of the condition

The high rate of injury at an early age is associated primarily with increased activity. In addition, in children, motor skills and normal coordination of movements are not fully formed, and the instinct of self-preservation is practically absent.

The main cause of concussion in children under the age of five is a fall from a height. Children under one and a half years old very often fall from the bed, sofa, chair, and sometimes even from the hands of the person holding them. This is mainly due to the banal inattention of parents: mom (or dad) may simply be distracted by something and not notice how the child crawled to the edge of the bed.

It happens that injuries are associated with violation of safety rules when using strollers or changing tables, which, as is known, have a hard surface. Some parents (or grandparents) carelessly place their children on them, hitting the baby's head. The blow may be completely unnoticed by an adult, but significant for a baby.

Often, a concussion can occur after intense rocking of a child or as a result of sudden braking or acceleration (traumatologists call this phenomenon shaken baby syndrome). One-year-old children (some earlier, some later than this age) are already standing on their feet and exploring the world around them. Due to the fact that the muscles and ligaments of the legs are poorly developed, falls and head hits often occur.

Falling from a height is the most common cause of concussion

Older children develop new interests, their social circle expands, and games become more active and dangerous. Unfortunately, there are situations when push comes to shove. Due to the fact that children spend most of their time outside the home (kindergarten, school, various development centers, and so on), it can be simply difficult for parents to keep an eye on their child.

Causes of concussions in children under one year of age

Vomiting blood in a child under one year old - symptoms of nausea

Not only children who have learned to walk can get a concussion, but also those who have just been born and are not yet sitting. Children under one year of age have the highest rate of injury - they account for 25% of all cases of head injuries among children of all ages. Of these, 2% are infants in the first month of life.

Among the reasons due to which the brain suffers, the most typical are:

Toddlers of the first months manage to fall from the bed, sofa, changing table;
there were cases when a newborn slipped out of the hands of an adult or an older child;
Having learned to sit down, an unattended infant runs the risk of falling out of the stroller;
Children who crawl or begin to walk on their own often hit their heads on furniture, walls, floors, and convex corners.

The baby fell

Even diligent rocking of a baby before bed can result in a concussion.

Classification and symptoms of the disease

Modern traumatology distinguishes three degrees of severity of concussion, which have their own symptoms:

The first, or easy. It is not characterized by loss of consciousness, but confusion is noted. In rare cases, brief fainting may occur. Sometimes vomiting and headache may occur. As a rule, the child’s well-being returns to normal within an hour after receiving the injury.
Second, or moderate severity. At this degree, pronounced agitation or inhibition is noted. Temporary loss of consciousness is typical (on average lasts from one to five minutes). After the child has come to his senses, he is disoriented in space for some time (usually twenty minutes). He does not understand where he is and does not remember what happened to him (later these memory lapses are restored). After some time, he may complain of weakness, dizziness and headache. Parents may notice that the child’s skin is pale and moist (cold sweat appears), and the pulse slows down. He becomes nauseous and vomits repeatedly.
Third, or heavy. A severe concussion is accompanied by loss of consciousness for up to fifteen to twenty minutes. Upon waking up, the child is disoriented in space and stunned. He does not remember the details of what happened to him and cannot recall it in his memory even after some time. Noted:
constant feeling of nausea;
frequent vomiting;
severe dizziness and intense headaches. Typical manifestations of the third degree of concussion are: impaired coordination of movements;
severe lethargy;
intense twitching of the eyeballs (nystagmus) or their divergence to the sides;
tremors of the limbs (tremor);
increase in blood pressure and pulse;
increased breathing;
drowsiness;
noise in ears.

Often moderate and severe concussions are accompanied by bruises and hematomas of the brain and even fractures of the skull bones.

Each degree of severity of a concussion is manifested by its own symptoms.

It is very difficult to determine the presence of this condition in newborns and infants. However, there are a number of signs that will make parents wary. When a child has a concussion, the following symptoms are observed:

pale skin;
sweating not related to room temperature;
agitation: the child becomes capricious and constantly cries;
lethargy: the child reacts poorly to others, sleeps most of the time;
severe fatigue;
restless sleep;
rapid breathing;
fast or slow heartbeat;
bulging of a large fontanel;
poor appetite or complete refusal of food offered;
frequent and profuse regurgitation, especially during feeding;
the appearance of vomiting.

The main feature of a concussion in childhood is that obvious manifestations of the condition may occur some time after the injury, that is, not immediately. If you detect the slightest signs, especially if they were preceded by a head blow, you should immediately contact a medical institution for help.

Symptoms

Small children often fall and hit their heads. It is important to remain calm in such moments and objectively assess the situation. Knowing the symptoms, you can easily identify a head injury. In other cases, there is no need to panic, but carefully monitor the child for the next 24 hours.

The first and fundamental sign of a concussion is considered to be loss of consciousness after a blow. When the child regains consciousness, he may not remember several minutes before the fall. Other main symptoms of brain injury are:

vomiting, most often multiple times (if the child vomited only once, this may be the body’s reaction to stress);
confusion (inadequate answers to simple questions, lack of understanding of what is happening);
post-traumatic blindness (rare, occurs only in children, goes away after a few minutes or hours);
headache;
dizziness;
drowsiness;
apathy or overexcitement;
capriciousness.

If loss of consciousness does not occur, this does not always mean that there is no cause for concern. This may be another traumatic brain injury, the symptoms of which appear with some delay.

In case of a concussion, all symptoms disappear on their own after a few days, if you follow the recommendations of doctors and take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

If you follow the recommendations of doctors and take the necessary measures in time, then negative consequences can be avoided

Diagnosis and differential diagnosis

Diagnosis of a concussion is based primarily on the manifestations of the condition. A child with severe symptoms must be examined by two specialists: a pediatric traumatologist and a neurologist (neurologist). In some cases, consultation with a neurosurgeon is required.

In addition to examination, additional examination methods are often used to confirm or exclude the diagnosis and detect concomitant pathologies. Most often used:

Neurosonography (NSG). The fastest and safest examination method. Informative when studying the state of the brain in children under two years of age. This is due to the fact that at this age the bones of the skull are not as dense as in older children. During the examination, the specialist can see the state of the brain structures and identify associated pathologies (edema, hematomas, bruises, hemorrhages, etc.).
Echoencephalography (Echo-EG). The technique determines the displacement of the midline of the brain, on the basis of which the presence of any formation in it or a hematoma is determined. Such research fades into the background, since it is not entirely accurate.
Electroencephalography (EEG). The study provides an assessment of the bioelectrical activity of the brain, on the basis of which it is possible to identify injured nerve tissues and the probable location of their localization, and also allows us to determine the severity of the injury.
Rheoencephalography (REG). The technique allows you to dynamically monitor the tone of the brain vessels and the state of its circulation. In addition, using REG, you can determine the degree of hemodynamic impairment. The technique is widely used to study the state of brain structures in very young patients (newborns and infants).
X-ray examination of the skull. Allows you to determine the integrity of the skull bones and is used in cases of suspected fractures. The method is widely used, but it is impossible to track the state of the brain with its help.
Computed tomography (CT). It is a modern technique for identifying pathologies of the nervous tissues of the brain and skull bones. Allows you to identify even the slightest areas of bruises, hemorrhages and the presence of a hematoma or any foreign body.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Unfortunately, the method will not be able to reveal the nature of the injury, since the bones of the skull are poorly visible with its help. MRI is mainly used to assess the condition of individual brain structures. The main disadvantage of the study is the duration of its implementation. There is no child who could lie motionless for twenty minutes or more. In this regard, the little patient is forced to be given anesthesia before the procedure.
Lumbar puncture. It is used to diagnose pathology in children quite rarely and in the most extreme cases. It involves collecting cerebrospinal fluid by inserting a needle from a special syringe into the spinal canal in the lumbar region. The method allows you to identify infectious lesions, hemorrhages and inflammatory processes in the brain and spinal cord.

Computed tomography allows you to most accurately identify brain pathologies after injury

What it is?

Doctors usually call a concussion an injury in which the tissues and structures of the brain do not change at the morphological level, but neurological disorders still appear. Concussion is temporary and usually short-term in nature.

Almost 85% of TBIs in young children are attributed to concussion. The cause and circumstances of the injury are always approximately the same and they lie in a mechanical effect on the skull: it can be either a blow to the head or a blow to the head against something. Sometimes the cause is a violation of the axial load, for example, with a fracture of the spinal column, a sharp fall on the butt, or a jump on the feet from a great height.

A child can also get a concussion on children's attractions, for example, on a circular carousel or trampoline - all movements, including sudden acceleration, are associated with a reflexive throwing back of the head, in which the brain “hits” the walls of the skull from the inside.

The fact is that the brain is located in the cerebral fluid, and there is free space between the walls of the skull and the brain tissue itself. In situations where the brain hits the skull from the inside, they directly speak of the presence of a concussion. Some time after the impact, some functions and coordination of different parts of the brain are temporarily disrupted.

Most often, concussions are recorded in children over 3 years of age. Until this age, the bones of the baby's skull are softer. In infancy, concussion is not a common diagnosis because shock-absorbing properties are enhanced by more cerebral fluid inside the skull and “fontanelles” that allow the bones of the skull to move when hit or otherwise impacted.

At 1-2 years, the fontanelles close and the bones of the skull begin to rapidly harden. By the age of 5, they reach the strength of an adult and from that moment on, a concussion is a very real threat.

According to pediatric traumatologists, concussions are most often recorded in children aged 7-9 years. Slightly less common - in children from 3 to 6 years old. More often, parents of boys turn to doctors for help, since girls fall less often, fight less, do not strive to set a world record for jumping from the roof of a garage, etc.

Treatment of concussion

Mild concussions require minimal but mandatory therapy. In more severe cases, the child must be hospitalized in a hospital.

Every parent should know the rules of behavior in case of head injuries (especially in cases of concussion).

The main thing to remember first of all is that under no circumstances should you give your child any medications before being examined by a specialist. Since this can blur the clinical picture of the pathology or even aggravate the condition.

If the child is conscious, you should limit his physical activity by placing him on the bed. If consciousness is confused or absent, lay it on your side, and bend the opposite arm and leg at an angle of ninety degrees. This is necessary to prevent the tongue from sinking, to ensure normal air intake, proper breathing, to prevent repeated falls, and to prevent choking on vomit (if vomiting develops). If the child is able to say what is bothering him, ask him in detail about it and then pass the information on to the doctor. If there are wounds and bruises, treat them and apply a sterile bandage.

Any medications are prescribed exclusively by a specialist. Under no circumstances should you act on your own and treat a concussion on your own.

As a rule, therapy for mild pathology can be carried out at home and with a minimal set of drugs. Strict bed rest is recommended for seven to ten days. For more serious concussions, mandatory hospitalization of the child in a hospital is required. In these cases, bed rest should be observed for ten to fifteen days. Therapy includes the use of the following medications:

analgesics that help reduce pain (Analgin, Pentalgin and others);
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which have an analgesic effect and relieve inflammation (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and others);
antihistamines that relieve tissue swelling and prevent the development of an allergic reaction to other medications (Zyrtec, Suprastin and others);
bromides that have a depressant effect on the nervous system, thereby reducing the child’s excessive excitability (Sodium bromide, Potassium bromide, Adonis bromide and others)
sedatives based on medicinal plants that exhibit a calming effect (Dormikind, Leovit, Valerianahel and others).
vitamins, in particular C and group B;
diuretics (diuretics) aimed at relieving cerebral edema (Furosemide, Acetazolamide and others);
drugs that replenish the lack of potassium in the body (Asparkam, Panangin and others);
antiemetics (Cerucal and so on);
nootropic drugs that improve blood supply to the brain, relieving excessive excitement and tension in the central nervous system (Pantogam, Glycine and others);
magnesium sulfate (25%), which relieves pain, dizziness and vomiting, is used in severe cases and with excessive manifestations of concussion.

In addition to drug therapy, experts recommend providing maximum psychological peace to the child during and after treatment. For the first time after discharge, watching TV, reading and using gadgets (phones, tablets and other devices) is prohibited, and physical activity is limited as much as possible. The child is temporarily (usually takes about a month) exempt from attending educational institutions (kindergarten, school, etc.); after discharge, schoolchildren are given an exemption from physical education classes for a period of one and a half to two months. In addition, it is not advisable for children to receive vaccinations for two to three months after receiving an injury, and therefore the victims receive medical withdrawal.

Head injury - how to help your child

Could you explain the difference between head injuries in children and adults?

If we talk about children in the first year of life, then their level of fluid inside the skull is much higher than that of older children and adults. Also, since babies have fontanels, as well as movable sutures between the bones of the skull, the brain is not tightly closed in the cranium. The result is depreciation, which to some extent reduces the risk of impacts to the head and head.

What are the possible consequences of head injuries?

The vast majority of traumatic brain injuries are not serious and do not have adverse outcomes. But absolutely every blow to the head and head requires serious attention from the parent. Anything is possible: unsafe damage to the brain matter and bleeding in the brain cavity. A common consequence of head injury is a concussion. What is the nature of a concussion?

Science still cannot give an exact answer to the question of what happens to the brain in this case. The most likely option is shaking of the brain matter with an impact of the brain on the skull from the inside. As a result, connections between brain cells and its parts are disrupted. The main symptoms in this case are disorders of consciousness. The main difference is that during a concussion, the integrity of the brain tissue is not compromised.

What other injuries are possible with a blow to the head?

The options can be very different: from compression to brain contusion. If we talk about the latter, then we are talking about damage to the brain matter with subsequent swelling and hemorrhage.

Another option is intracranial hematomas with severe swelling of the brain tissue, which is otherwise called compression of the brain.

The concept of traumatic brain injury includes all three of these possible outcomes: compression, bruise and concussion. Due to an impact, the injury can be either open or closed, depending on the violation of the integrity of the bones of the skull. If these abnormalities are present, then the injury is open.

Between the inside of the skull and the brain matter is the hard part of the brain membrane. Damage to the dura mater due to an open head injury is called penetrating.

The opposite situation with a head contusion is damage to the soft tissues, which in this case are the skin and subcutaneous tissue above the bones of the skull, without disorder. All of the above are medical diagnoses that a doctor can and should make. At the same time, there are obvious symptoms indicating the potential danger of a possible head injury in a child, which requires mandatory consultation with a doctor.

The main task of parents in such cases is to immediately provide emergency assistance, knowing these symptoms.

Tell us more about the symptoms that indicate medical attention is needed.

I want to make a reservation right away that any head injury is dangerous. “Screaming” symptoms may not appear immediately, which is why round-the-clock monitoring of the child is so important in this situation, even if the injury does not seem serious. Moreover, seeking medical help is mandatory if the head injury was sustained under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The main signs of a serious traumatic brain injury are:

speech disorder;
unnatural drowsiness;
disturbance of consciousness of any kind;
inappropriate behavior;
severe headache that persists for more than an hour after injury;
difficulty moving your arms and legs, including weakness in an arm or leg;
loss of balance and/or dizziness that persists for more than an hour after injury;
convulsions;
different pupil sizes;
more than one episode of vomiting;
bleeding from the nose/ears;
dark/dark blue spots under the eyes and behind the ears;
any, even seemingly insignificant, changes in the sensory organ (auditory hallucinations, fog, double vision, strange taste in the mouth, goosebumps, decreased skin sensitivity);
discharge of fluid from the nose or ears, both colorless (runny nose) and bloody.

If the child falls asleep after an injury, it is necessary to wake him up every 2-3 hours by asking simple questions: “How old are you?”, “What is your name?” and others.

It is important to know all these symptoms, but I repeat once again - if in any doubt, you should consult a doctor immediately.

What about emergency care for a child? What steps can parents take?

It all depends on the symptoms. If there are no dangerous signs of a head injury, then it is enough to calm the child, limit his physical activity as much as possible and apply cold to the bruised area.

If dangerous symptoms appear, it is extremely important to exercise maximum vigilance. It is necessary to check the child’s breathing and circulatory conditions. If they are in critical condition, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is needed. If both breathing and blood circulation are normal, but the child is unconscious: place him on his back on a hard and flat surface, support his head with his hands and carefully monitor his breathing. It can be difficult due to excess saliva and vomit - then you need to put the child in a stable position on his side, avoiding rotation, excessive throwing back and lateral tilt of the head.

While waiting for help, it is recommended to immobilize the cervical spine - also known as splinting.

If you suspect damage to the skull bones, avoid direct pressure on the wound as much as possible.
To do this, cover the wound with a dressing. Do not remove foreign bodies from the wound. If the child is conscious, wait for medical attention with the child lying on his back without a pillow. You should not give food or drink at this time, as well as move him unless absolutely necessary.

Treatment prognosis and possible complications

Treatment prognosis is usually favorable. The child usually fully recovers from the injury within two to three months.

But in some cases the consequences can be unfavorable, for example:

epileptic seizures;
intense migraine headaches;
excessive excitability;
excessive irritability;
unmotivated attacks of aggression;
increased fatigue;
sleep disorders;
excessive moodiness and tearfulness;
vegetative-vascular dystonia.

How is the treatment carried out?

At the recovery stage, the child is shown rest, a balanced diet, the absence of loud sounds, bright light, and active movement. Typically, rehabilitation takes up to 3-4 weeks. It is recommended to limit computer games, watching TV and reading books during this time.

The child is prescribed vitamin preparations, as well as often nootropics (Pantogam, Nootropil). Uncommon, but may require an inpatient stay of 1-2 weeks. During the recovery period, the child’s neurologist may prescribe massage and physiotherapy sessions.

Prevention of pathology

Prevention of concussion involves strict monitoring of the child. He must be under adult supervision at all times. It is very important to conduct preventive conversations on the topic of safety, namely about traffic rules, dangerous sports and games, and so on. It is imperative to build a relationship with your child on complete trust. This is necessary, first of all, so that he is not afraid to tell his parent about what happened to him. If you notice an injury, you should immediately seek help from a qualified professional.

Elena Malysheva talks about concussion in adults and children - video

A concussion can be a serious condition for a child, which can have unpleasant consequences in the future. Therefore, any head injury should not be ignored. Only qualified help can help avoid or minimize complications in the future.

In this article we will look at the symptoms of a concussion in a 3-year-old child.

Children by nature are very active and inquisitive; they often forget about the sense of self-preservation, which inevitably leads to various dangerous situations. At the age of three, various injuries occur quite often. In some cases, a blow or fall can result in a concussion. It is important for parents to know the signs of this pathology and be able to recognize them in time to provide first aid.

The symptoms and treatment of a concussion in a child will be described below.

Description of the pathology

A fall or impact can lead to a traumatic brain injury. In a mild form, this pathology is accompanied by a violation of the integrity of tissues, membranes, blood vessels and nerves. This condition is characterized as a concussion. The bones of the skull remain intact.

In childhood, concussion has certain characteristics that are determined by the organ that is in the process of formation. The child's brain has a high degree of plasticity, which allows it to compensate for the shock. However, disruption of the organ has serious pathological consequences in the future. There are several theories that explain the processes occurring in the brain during a concussion. The vasomotor theory associates a concussion with a violation of the blood circulation of the brain, which occurs against the background of vasospasm, ischemia and hyperemia.

Many parents are interested in what symptoms do a child have when they have a concussion? More on this later.

How dangerous is a concussion for a child?

A concussion is a mild degree of brain damage that is not accompanied by fractures of the skull bones. In children, such injuries occur very often, and with the right approach, complications rarely occur. A distinctive feature is a short loss of consciousness after the blow. Changes in the brain occur at the cellular level and are not detected in studies.

Concussions are common among children and can have serious consequences.

This condition is especially dangerous for newborns and babies in the first year of life, since at this age the symptoms may not be noticed, and the body is not yet ready for such stress. Older children can report how they are feeling and the signs of a concussion are more obvious.

If symptoms appear, it is important to take immediate action and call an ambulance to rule out more serious head injuries. The specialist prescribes diagnostic measures, and if there are indications, may recommend hospital treatment.

Mechanisms of concussion

Medicine explains the mechanisms of concussion with the following theories:

1. Hydrodynamic, when the injury causes rapid movement of spinal cord fluid, which provokes stretching and irritation of adjacent brain centers.

2. Vibrational, when molecular changes occur due to vibration upon impact.

Regardless of the processes that caused the concussion, this pathological condition requires immediate medical intervention.

Symptoms of a concussion in a 3-year-old child

The child’s skull contains bones that have the ability to absorb shock when in contact with heavy objects. This property of bone structures helps protect the brain from injury. It is important to closely monitor the child’s condition if he does receive an injury. In some cases, symptoms of a concussion in a 3-year-old child do not appear immediately, but after a certain time.

During injury, a short-term loss of consciousness occurs, which may not even be noticed.

The clinical manifestations of a concussion vary in different age groups, so, in particular, it is difficult to diagnose the pathology in an infant due to the similarity of the symptoms with other diseases. The situation is simpler with older children, as they can describe existing complaints.

General signs of a concussion can be very varied and affect many body systems. Symptoms of a concussion in a 3-year-old child can appear singly or in combination. After an injury, you should pay attention to the following symptoms of a concussion:

1. Loss of consciousness, amnesia, dizziness, flashing before the eyes.

2. Rapid breathing, pressure changes, hyperhidrosis.

3. Increased heart rate, weakness, tinnitus.

4. Impaired motor coordination.

All this is a reason to seek medical help.

Symptoms of a mild concussion in a child are divided into early and late.