Only a qualified specialist can distinguish mild brain damage from a bruise. The disease is treated with complete rest and prolonged sleep in the walls of a hospital or at home. Information on how to recognize the signs of a traumatic brain injury is useful for emergency situations.
Signs of a concussion
When an injury occurs, primary symptoms appear within minutes, while delayed ones can manifest themselves after several weeks, sometimes months. The more pronounced concussion symptoms will depend on the severity, the stronger the blow to the head, the more serious the consequences. The duration of loss of consciousness indicates the extent of damage to brain activity. According to the signs, the degree is determined: easy level, medium and severe.
The first symptoms of a concussion
The most common signs of a concussion of the head appear immediately after the injury. According to them, the doctor to whom they turned for help will be able to make a more accurate diagnosis. The main symptom of a concussion is a short-term or prolonged loss of consciousness. The first indicators during microconcussion also include such characteristic changes that occur in the state of a person, both a small child and a teenager or adult:
- starts to feel sick;
- coordination in space is lost, both in the vertical position of the body and horizontal, up to the fall;
- dizziness appears;
- nausea sometimes leads to vomiting;
- mild uncontrollable hand tremor;
- rapid breathing becomes confused;
- there is a headache that does not go away even when taking medication;
- the reaction of the pupil of the eye to light is weak or completely absent;
- the skin becomes unnaturally pale.
Concussion in a child - symptoms
Basically, children are very mobile by nature, rarely without injuries and falls that cause TBI. The task of parents is to protect the baby as much as possible from getting serious injuries so that he does not have to get sick for a long time or fight for life. Signs of a concussion in a child differ in some respects from those of an adult TBI. In addition to the symptoms listed above, children have an increased tendency to whims, sleep may be disturbed.
Signs of a concussion in an infant
Only an experienced pediatrician or pediatric surgeon can determine damage inside the head in newborns, the parameters of which are somewhat different from the usual ones. Loss of consciousness in infants is rare, but regurgitation is more frequent, regardless of the time of feeding. The skin of the baby's face becomes paler than usual, cold sweat may appear.
Prolonged crying of the baby, anxiety, sleep disturbance with abrupt waking up are all possible symptoms of a concussion in infants if there is a suspicion that the baby hit his head. With serious brain damage, it is visually noticeable how the fontanel swelled. The temperature of a small child rises sharply, and the pupils of the eyes are in chaotic movement, with a blurred look.
Mild concussion - symptoms
The main symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury, by which the doctor determines the diagnosis, for the most part remain the same as for moderate severity. After receiving a blow to the head or under other circumstances, you need to undergo an examination. The absence of visible signs does not mean that the bruise has passed without a trace. The consequences may come to light later, because even a slight concussion - the symptoms of which are inexpressive, indicates a violation of functional activity. Symptoms of a mild concussion:
- the head suddenly begins to spin;
- there is a loss of coordination of the surrounding space;
- nausea ends with vomiting;
- there is no clarity of the image of objects in front of the eyes, the appearance of a veil, spots, flashes visually interferes;
- slight pallor of the skin;
- no appetite;
- throbbing pain in the head, slight tinnitus;
- weakness with profuse sweating;
- unstable pulse.
Concussion Diagnosis
Information on how to determine a concussion by the first signs should be known to every adult, regardless of profession. A more detailed examination and diagnosis can be made by an experienced doctor by finding out and comparing the symptoms of a concussion with the stories of the victim. In order not to miss important details, an examination of an adult or a baby is carried out by several specialists: a neurosurgeon, a traumatologist, an oculist, a neuropathologist.
Correctly defined diagnosis will help to coordinate the treatment and after one to one and a half weeks the patient will feel much better. If necessary, ultrasound of the head (neurosonography), MRI, computed tomography, electroencephalography (EEG) or radiography are performed. Each of the methods will help to see swelling inside the head, if any, after a bruise, displacement of the bones of the cranium, internal hematomas and hemorrhages.
The main method of establishing the diagnosis is a visual examination. Based on the results, the doctor determines the correct approach to treatment, which is often carried out at home with complete rest. Inpatient hospital is recommended for significant head injuries with a pronounced craniocerebral injury. After the diagnosis, it is important to monitor the dynamics of the treatment and the state of health of the patient.
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