At my son\u2019s Little League game last week, the first pitch hit his teammate in the head. Everyone gasped as a loud \u201ccrack\u201d sounded, and the batter fell to the ground, motionless over home plate.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, he stood up shortly after, shaken up but not severely injured. He had a well-fitted helmet that took the impact of the pitch. However, because he\u2019d been hit in the head and might have had a concussion, he wasn\u2019t allowed to play in the rest of the game. It left my son and his teammates asking, why not?<\/p>\n
It can be hard for kids and athletes to understand why someone can\u2019t continue playing when they look and feel okay after a head injury. Let\u2019s look at why it\u2019s so important to treat head injuries carefully and cautiously.<\/p>\n
A concussion is a type of brain injury that temporarily changes how the brain functions.<\/p>\n
When a head injury causes the brain to \u201crattle\u201d back and forth in the skull, a concussion may develop.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s well known that concussions happen in contact sports such as soccer, basketball, and football, but they also can happen in everyday life. I have seen patients with concussions from severe whiplash during a car accident, hitting their head when getting up from under a table, to tripping and falling (hitting their head very hard on the ground).<\/p>\n
While concussions are not life-threatening, the effects of concussions in kids can be very serious.<\/p>\n
Children\u2019s brains are still developing into early adulthood (until about age 25). Injuries to the brain during this time can affect the brain long-term functioning if not treated appropriately.<\/p>\n
While some concussions may be \u201cmild\u201d or less serious than others, it\u2019s important to address and monitor all concussions through recovery. If concussions occur back-to-back – for example, if one happens again before recovering from the first concussion – permanent brain damage can occur.<\/p>\n
My son\u2019s Little League coach knew this risk and kept the player out the rest of the game both to monitor for signs of concussion and to prevent any additional head injury from causing additional damage.<\/p>\n
Many people think concussions only happen if you \u201cpass out\u201d after a head injury, but this isn\u2019t true; many concussions I see in my office follow head injuries with no loss of consciousness.<\/p>\n
Concussion symptoms often are present shortly after the injury, but some patients don\u2019t see symptoms until a day or 2 later.<\/p>\n
Common concussion symptoms include:<\/p>\n
If your child doesn’t have signs of a serious head injury<\/a> and remains alert, moves normally, and responds to you, the injury usually doesn’t need urgent evaluation. In those cases, your child can often follow up with their doctor within 1-2 days regarding concussion symptoms. In the meantime, they should rest and avoid school and physical activity. Typically, no medical imaging is needed to diagnose a concussion.<\/p>\n To help prevent concussions in kids, we recommend the following:<\/p>\n If your child has a head injury that could be a concussion, please contact their doctor.<\/p>\n\n Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/p>\n What is a Concussion?<\/a><\/p>\n American Academy of Pediatrics<\/p>\nPreventing Concussions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Resources For Parents<\/h4>\n