| ■ Kids + Sports = Risk for Concussion | 2010.08.27 |
| FRIDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Your child takes a hard hit during a football game. Or a nasty fall caused by a failed cheerleading stunt. The youngster gets right back up but stumbles around a bit and seems to be only dimly aware of his or her surroundings. A worried teammate tries to converse, but you can tell from the sidelines that your child is having a hard time understanding what's being said and appears sluggish, dazed and confused. Chances are that the child sustained a concussion. And if parents and coaches don't know how to recognize the signs and pursue prompt treatment, the child could be at increased risk for a severe brain injury, with lifelong consequences. "If a concussion goes undiagnosed, it can increase the risk of re-injury," explained Dr. Paul Gubanich, an orthopedic specialist in the Center for Sports Health and the orthopedic surgery department at the Cleveland Clinic. "We know repeated head injuries can lead to chronic changes in the brain. Athletes who go back to play before they are fully recovered are at risk for having worse symptoms and more prolonged injuries."・・・ |