What is Concussion?
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- What is Concussion?
Concussion is the sudden but short-lived loss of mental function that occurs after a blow or other injury to the head. Concussion is the most common but least serious type of brain injury.
The medical term for concussion is minor traumatic brain injury. Symptoms of concussion include:
brief loss of consciousness
memory loss
disturbances in vision, such as ‘seeing stars’
confusion
Most people with mild concussion do not require any treatment as they normally get better by themselves. They will not need more than a period of observation in hospital. However, if there are signs of a more serious injury, they may need emergency treatment.
headache, nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, loss of balance
confusion, such as being unaware of your surroundings
feeling stunned or dazed, vacant stare
disturbances with vision, such as double vision or seeing ‘stars’ or flashing lights
Difficulties with memory can take one of two forms, or possibly both forms:
retrograde amnesia – where you are unable to remember events that occurred before the concussion happened (this usually only affects the minutes immediately leading up to the concussion)
anterograde amnesia – where you are unable to remember any new information or events after the concussion happened
Both retrograde and anterograde amnesia usually improve within a few hours.
A person with a knock in the head and having any symptoms below should be evaluated urgently by a neuro expert
remaining unconscious after the initial injury
difficulty staying awake or still being sleepy several hours after the injury
having a seizure or fit
difficulty speaking, such as slurred speech
prolonged vision problems, such as double vision
difficulty understanding what people say
reading or writing problems
balance problems or difficulty walking
loss of power in part of the body, such as weakness in an arm or leg
clear fluid leaking from the nose or ears (this could be cerebrospinal fluid,
which normally surrounds the brain)
a black eye, with no other damage around the eye
bleeding from one or both ears
sudden deafness in one or both ears
This is a syndrome of persistent physical, psychological and or cognitive defects after a concussion that can last for up to 6 months to a year.
Treatment is usually supportive with psychotherapy, antidepressants and largely symptomatic.