Concussion

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Brain

Concussion

Treatment:

An initial "baseline" neurological evaluation by a health care worker determines appropriate treatment for an uncomplicated concussion. If a blow to the head during athletics leads to unconsciousness, a trained person must determine readiness for continued participation and timing for return to play.

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In this situation, if a child or young adult has lost consciousness, that person should not resume athletics for a period of 3 months. Studies have shown that there is an increased rate of brain injury and occasionally death in people who have had a previous concussion with unconsciousness.

Concussion complicated by bleeding or brain damage must be treated in a hospital.

Expectations (prognosis):

Full recovery is expected from an uncomplicated concussion, although prolonged dizziness, irritability, headaches, and other symptoms may occur.

Complications:

Intracerebral hemorrhage
Brain injury

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if anyone has a head injury that produced unconsciousness, or a head injury without unconsciousness produced symptoms that caused concern.

Go to the emergency room, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or contact your health care provider immediately if emergency symptoms develop.