Kids are already practicing those afterschool sports and knowing how to treat a head injury is a must.
SAN ANTONIO — Now that kids are returning to school, sports injuries become more common. There are signs to look out for that your child needs to be aware of too.
A concussion is typically caused by an impact to the head and can affect your brain function. But not all concussions are caused by a blow to your body.
Dr. Guy Nicolette, an associate clinical professor at UT Health San Antonio and sports medicine physician for UT Health San Antonio and the San Antonio Spurs told us, “And that brain, injury then results in a cascade of blood flow changes, inflammation changes, neurotransmitter changes that then, result in symptoms.”
Physical symptoms of a concussion may include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision. Other symptoms of a concussion could be confusion, temporary amnesia, slurred speech, delayed response to questions and a dazed appearance.
So when should you see a doctor? Dr. Nicolette advised, “What we’re recommending is that if somebody has an injury to the head, neck, or body that results in symptoms that I just described, that they go see somebody that day.”
According to the National Safety Council, a child is treated every three minutes for a sports-related concussion. They also say 3.8 million concussions occur every year and nearly half go undetected and untreated. And the CDC says about three percent of children and adolescents have received a concussion diagnosis.
And since it may be hard to recognize a concussion on your own, it always helps for others to keep an eye on you as well. Dr. Nicolette added, “After that happens often on the sideline, a football sideline, we will ask other athletes whether this person seems right or to really report any symptoms that they see either in themselves or other athletes, because if you’re concussed, sometimes your judgment isn’t exactly right or you think you’re just getting your bell rung and things will be okay.”