Cerebral concussion in children: Parents know what to do to protect their children?

Parents often think that brain concussion in a child will only happen if the child plays strong sports such as soccer or badminton. In fact, children can experience a concussion even when participating in light activity. Learn about this condition to prevent your baby and how to handle it appropriately when he shows signs of illness.

Children of all ages and genders are at risk for a concussion. This is a more common illness than you might think. Let's join aFamilyToday Health to learn what a concussion is.

What is concussion?

A brain concussion is an injury to the head that prevents the brain from working properly for a period of time or permanently. Children are at risk of having a brain concussion from hitting their head somewhere, falling or having a traffic accident.

Cerebral concussions in children are very dangerous because children are often unable to express the signs they are clearly and parents need to observe very closely to detect those signs. Furthermore, the signs of a concussion sometimes don't appear immediately after an accident, but take hours or days afterward.

Signs of brain concussion in children

Signs of a concussion are usually the same at all ages. However, you still need to consider your child's age when taking them for diagnosis.

1. Signs of brain concussion in babies

In newborn babies, signs of a concussion include:

Cry when you move your baby's head

Irritated

Change your sleep. Babies sleep more or less

Vomit

There is a bump or bruise on the head.

2. Signs of brain concussion in toddlers

Children at this age have been able to pinpoint the pain point and be able to describe the signs more clearly:

Headache

Nausea and vomiting

Change your behavior

Change your sleep. Babies sleep more or less

Cry a lot

Loss of interest in games children used to like.

3. Signs of brain concussion in children over 2 years old

Babies over 2 years old will have more changes in behavior such as:

Dizziness or loss of balance

Not clear

Sensitive to light

Dreaming

Difficulty concentrating

Forgetful

Forget or confuse recent events

Mood changes, irritability, sadness, emotion, or anxiety

Tired

Change sleeping habits

Difficulty sleeping.

When should you take your baby to the doctor?

If you notice your baby has been hit on the head or injured, calmly observe your baby before taking him or her to the doctor. Please answer the following questions:

Do you behave like normal?

Are you more sluggish than usual?

Do you have any unusual behavior?

If your baby is awake, active and doesn't behave abnormally after a slight bump, he or she may be fine and don't need to see a doctor. You do not need to take your baby to the emergency room if he or she just flaps his head lightly and doesn't show any of these signs.

If your child has concussion symptoms, especially vomiting, loses consciousness for a few minutes, has trouble waking up or feels uncomfortable, you should take your child to the hospital immediately. Let your baby sleep if you want, but when he wakes up, watch him closely.

There is currently no official diagnosis of concussion, but CT scans and MRI can also help detect brain hemorrhages . If you notice that the child's irises are irregular or larger than normal after the impact, your child's brain is probably damaged and needs emergency care.

How to treat brain concussion in children

The only cure for a concussion is to give your baby about a week's rest. The young brain needs plenty of rest to recover from a concussion. Recovery can take months or even years depending on the severity of the tremor.

Note that your child needs both psychological and physical rest. Children should not use phones, computers, listen to music or watch movies because this will stimulate the brain.

When your child returns to school after a concussion, you should ask the teacher to pay attention to your child and adjust the lesson time to be shorter and softer. If your child shows signs of brain concussion, such as a headache while participating in learning activities, leave school. Children can return to school when they feel better but should not study for too long. The teacher may gradually increase the class time if the child's symptoms subside.

Sleep is a great way for the brain to rest. Encourage your child to take a nap and go to bed early so that the brain recovers as quickly as possible.

Avoid having your child experience any other head injuries while you recover. If more injuries occur during this time, the brain could be damaged permanently.

The young brain is still in its development stage. Take care to avoid giving your child any brain damage. If your child has a concussion, encourage your child to get plenty of rest and see a doctor when needed.