Gavini Pediatric & ADHD Clinics

26850 Providence Parkway, Suite 300, Novi, MI 48374 :: 248.348.4200
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Concussion - Closed Head Injury

What is a Concussion?

A minor traumatic brain injury, also referred to as a TBI. Concussions can be caused by an instance in which the head hits an object, or a moving object strikes the head. Depending on the severity of the concussion, it may affect how your brain works for a time. Concussions can lead to changes in alertness, bad headaches, or even loss of consciousness.

Causes

  • Sports activities
  • Car accidents
  • A fall
  • A big movement of the brain, also known as 'jarring'

Signs and Symptoms

  • Headache
  • Loss of Consciousness
  • Memory loss
  • Acting confused
  • Feeling spacey
  • Inability to think straight
  • Being drowsy
  • Hard to wake up
  • Seeing Flashing Lights
  • Feeling as if you’ve 'lost time'
  • Nausea and Vomiting

Emergency Symptoms of a Concussion

When you need to seek immediate medical care:
  • Persistent confusion
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Changes in alertness or consciousness
  • Unusual eye movements
  • Walking problems
  • Convulsions
  • Muscle weakness on one or both sides
  • Unequal Pupils
  • Remaining unconscious

Tests

  • MRI of the head
  • EEG: a brain wave test that may be needed if seizures continue.
  • Head CT scan

Treatment

A physical exam will be performed by your doctor to check your nervous system. Expect possible changes in pupil size, coordination, reflexes and thinking ability.

Serious brain injuries that involve bleeding or brain damage will be treated in a hospital. The healing and recovery from a concussion takes an indeterminate about of time, which can be days, weeks, or months. During this time it is important for caregivers to know how to monitor for problems and treat the symptoms.

Expect to be irritable during the time of recovery from the concussion as well as possibly having difficulty concentrating, headaches, blurry vision and dizziness.

Some long term complications are possible, such as:
  • Symptoms stay for an extended period of time
  • Brain swelling if a second concussion occurs during the recovery of the first. Seek medical attention immediately if this happens as it is life-threatening.
  • Long-term changes in the brain.
If during recovery, symptoms do not go away or do not improve after 2-3 weeks, make an appointment to see your doctor.

Call your doctor if these symptoms occur:

  • Confusion
  • Fever
  • Vomiting more than three times
  • Changes in behavior or unusual behavior
  • Difficulty waking up or becoming more sleepy
  • Seizures
  • Problems walking or talking
  • Fluid or blood leaking from the nose or ears
  • headache that lasts a long time or is getting worse and doesn't improve with the aid of over the counter medications.
  • Double vision or blurred vision