A concussion is a nightmare that almost every parent has to deal with at least once in their child’s life. That’s because it’s impossible to completely prevent your child from ever accidentally falling down or bumping their head somewhere.
That’s why it’s important for every parent to know everything there is to know about concussions, as this will help them understand what they need to look out for, how to react to a concussion immediately, how to find the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and finally, how you can effectively treat it as well.
In this blog, we’re going to cover everything that’s listed above, so you’ll know exactly what to do if your child ever has a concussion. Let’s get started.
1. What causes a concussion?
Contrary to popular belief, a concussion doesn’t occur only during accidents or other blows that are of high impact. It can happen even during minor bumps to the head which initially don’t seem like they could cause much damage. It’s hard to tell what kind of blows cause a concussion and what do not, so it’s good practice to always know the warning signs and be aware of anything that seems to resemble a concussion.
Typically, concussions get better with a little care, rest, and treatment. However, there are instances where they do not get better with rest and require immediate medical attention. That’s why it’s always advisable to take people, especially children, who have suffered blows to their head to a hospital, as this will help you quickly cure and prevent a concussion from leading to other serious injuries.
2. How do you treat concussions?
Concussions vary from each person depending on the severity of the situation. In some cases, children can recover quickly with little to no medication, but in other cases, they might need to be admitted and also kept under observation for a few days until they properly recover.
In general, there are certain things parents can do to help their child recover fully from a concussion, even if the child claims to feel fine within a day or so. This is because children may not always be completely honest about the symptoms they’re facing, simply because they are not aware of the symptoms and may overlook it. Some of the ways in which you can help your child recover soon include:
- Making sure they get proper rest for a few days – this includes a lot of sleep, and also lying down with their eyes shut to avoid straining their eyes.
- Avoid bright lights and loud music or noises, as this may inadvertently cause more pain or stress to your child when they are recovering.
- Make sure that they do not strain their eyes by watching television, playing video games, or using the internet. Even though this may seem harmless, it can delay the recovery period of your child.
3. What are the symptoms to keep an eye out for?
Even though you get your child checked as soon as they get hurt, there are chances that the side-effects of a concussion can last for many days, or even weeks after the concussion. That’s why it’s important to know the symptoms, along with the long-term effects of multiple concussions so you can be aware of what your child is going through even if they seem alright on the outside. It’s important to know that multiple concussions can cause more damage to the brain, which can also lead to brain trauma and prevent it from functioning normally. Leaving concussions untreated can cause the brain and even your vision to get affected and permanently altered, so it’s best to be aware of the worst so you can avoid it at all costs.
