Symptoms Of A Concussion

Concussions or mild traumatic brain injury are caused due to injuries to the brain as a result of substantial blunt force injury to the head. The blow shakes the brain and prevents it from working properly for a while. This could be caused due to an accident, a fall, or even by being hit on the head with an object. While this is not an injury that is life threatening, concussions could have long-term as well as short-term complications. This is a closed head type of injury and does not involve bleeding either into the brain or under the skull. A person who has a severe concussion might suffer from extended loss of consciousness and later return to normal. A person with a mild concussion with just a feeling of being dazed or, in some cases, might suffer from very brief unconsciousness.

Signs of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Symptoms At A Glance

Headache.
Vomiting or Nausea.
Confusion.
Loss of consciousness.
Blurred vision.
Irritability.
Sadness.
Changes in sleep patterns.
Feeling more “emotional”.
Dizziness or balance problems.
Short term memory loss, where the subject would not be able to remember the injury and some events that might have happened shortly after the injury.
Repetition of things over and over again.
Changes in the ability to think, remember or to concentrate on things.

Symptoms That Need Emergency Medical Attention

If the subject is a child who has lost consciousness because of the trauma.
If the fall was from a height more than the subject’s height and if the fall was on to a very hard surface, resulting in bleeding.
If loss of consciousness is for more than two minutes.
If the subject is revived after the injury, but loses consciousness again.
If there is continuous vomiting.
If confusion persists for a long time.
If the subject is unable to walk, and is drowsy or weak.
If headaches are very severe.
If there is amnesia (loss of memory).
If the subject perseverates.

Quick Help Tips

Allow a person to sleep if they wish after the injury, probably until the doctor arrives.
Ensure that you are aware of all current medications and that you are also aware of the subject’s allergies to any medication, so that these can be informed to the doctor.
You could use ice soon after the trauma as an option for first aid. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Rather, use a soft cloth to wrap it in and then apply it for around 20 or 30 minutes, every two to four hours, for the first 48 hours.
Some people suffer from post-concussion syndrome, wherein the symptoms reach their peak between four to six weeks after the injury and some symptoms might last for a year or more. Allow the person to take good rest and visit the doctor in case the symptoms get worse.

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