A fall from a bike or from the stairs, sports injury, injury during physical assault or anything else which results in a jolt or blow to the head can cause a concussion. Even babies can suffer a concussion if they are shaken violently. The main characteristic of a concussion is that the victim may lose consciousness for a long period of time.

What are the symptoms of a concussion? Here are few warning signs to watch out for:

• Severe and persistent headaches

• Memory loss which may be transient or persistent

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Speech difficulties

• Loss of balance

• Confusion

• Trouble concentrating

• Irritability and tiredness

In children, symptoms of a concussion may manifest differently from that in adults. A child with a concussion may be drowsy like he or she sleeps more than usual and seems uninterested in waking up and interacting with others. The child may suffer from dizziness and have difficulty walking or balancing while standing up. The child may have severe vomiting and irritability. He or she may have bloody discharge from the mouth, nose or ears. If the concussion is severe, the child may have convulsions or fits or may remain unconscious for a long time.

Sometimes, symptoms manifest only after 24 to 48 hours of the fall or blow. Take your baby to the doctor if he seems weak and confused or sleeps throughout the day and you have difficulty awakening him. Vomiting is common after a fall but if your child has persistent vomiting, you should take him to a doctor as soon as possible.

Post concussion symptoms in adults include headaches, memory loss, problems with vision, depression and more.

If you have suffered a blow or jolt to your head, it is better to get yourself checked by a doctor, because signs of internal bleeding may manifest only after some time. Your doctor will be able to determine the seriousness of your concussion and plan appropriate treatment. Your doctor will evaluate your memory, co-ordination skills, vision, hearing and balance, if he suspects internal injury; he may recommend a CT scan. Not all concussions require CT scans. In most cases, doctors will advice the patient to rest and take acetaminophen for headache. The patient will be asked to refrain from sports and vigorous activity for a while.

Those who are 65 years or older, people who have been involved in high impact accidents, those who have epilepsy or previous skull fracture are more at risk of complications due to concussion. Such people may need to be kept under observation in a hospital for 24 hours or more, so that the doctor can determine the extent of the problem and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Mark Perry

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