Headline: Brain Trauma Indications, Identification, and Solutions
Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that can occur following an impact to the head or a whiplash-type injury causing the head and brain to shake quickly. Symptoms of a concussion can vary depending on the severity of the injury and the person injured, but they may include headaches, nausea, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, double vision, sensitivity to light or noise, balance problems, memory problems, difficulty paying attention, feeling groggy, irregular sleeping patterns, irritability, and sensitivity to light or noise during the recovery period.
It's crucial to seek medical assistance if you suspect that you or someone else has a concussion, especially if they have slurred speech, trouble waking up, seizures, consistent vomiting, a history of multiple concussions, or if you think they have a neck or back injury. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) recommends seeking immediate medical assistance if someone with a concussion has slurred speech, trouble waking up, seizures, consistent vomiting, a history of multiple concussions.
Anyone who has had a concussion should not return to sports or strenuous activities without a doctor's permission to avoid second impact syndrome, which can increase the chances of severe brain swelling and may be fatal.
To reduce the risk of getting a concussion, wear a properly fitted helmet, use athletic safety gear, follow safety guidelines, take plenty of time to recover from injuries, and consult the CDC's resources for head injury treatment and prevention.
In babies, common signs of a concussion include a visible bump or bruise on the baby's head, crying when you move the baby's head or neck, vomiting, irritability, drowsiness, seizure, and dilated pupils. In children, common symptoms reported include trouble sleeping, vision problems, headache, dizziness, excessive crying, staring into space, behavioral changes, and trouble concentrating.
Post-traumatic headaches, post-traumatic vertigo, and brain injury or damage are other long-term complications of concussions. Treatment for a concussion can include over-the-counter pain relievers, drinking plenty of water, getting enough rest, taking a break from sports and strenuous activities, not driving, avoiding alcohol, minimizing electronic use, and seeking surgery or other medical procedures if there is bleeding in the brain, swelling of the brain, or other serious injury to the brain.
In rare instances, people may experience emotional, mental, or physical changes that are more lasting. Repeat concussions can increase the chances of permanent brain damage. In the case of serious impact or symptoms, doctors may request an MRI scan, CT scan, or electroencephalogram.
Concussions in athletes are diagnosed using standardized assessment tools, with the organization that has established guidelines for assessing sports injuries, including concussions, being the Concussion in Sport Group (CISG), which issues international consensus statements on concussion in sport. Children's brains are uniquely at risk of TBI, especially if they play sports.
In the case of a person with a concussion having a neck or back injury, avoid moving them and call an ambulance for help. If you must move the person, do so very carefully and try to keep their neck and back as stationary as possible to avoid causing further damage to the spine.
Lastly, a concussion can cause cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to leak. Post-concussion syndrome causes symptoms to last for weeks or even months instead of just a few days.
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