How to cure a mild concussion. Bed rest for a child. Symptoms in children

Mild concussion actually happens a lot more often than most people think. It is not necessary to get serious injury head, a weak blow or bruise is enough. However, the harm to health can be very serious, the consequences of even a minor concussion without timely assistance. medical care unpredictable, especially if a child is hurt.

Brain concussion mild degree- this is a short and reversible violation of its functionality, which arose, as a rule, with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to a fall, bruise, accident. In 85% of cases, diagnosis is not performed and treatment is not carried out, which often leads to the development of serious pathologies in the future, up to premature loss of working capacity and disability.

It is not easy to identify such a pathology, since there are almost always no visible damage to the skin, bones and internal tissues of the head. Main symptoms slight concussion brain in an adult, observed immediately after injury:

  • throbbing headaches;
  • dizziness, due to which it is difficult for the victim to be in a standing or sitting position;
  • noise, ringing in the ears;
  • veil before the eyes, bifurcation, inability to focus the gaze at one point;
  • impaired coordination of movements;
  • bouts of nausea, weakness;
  • pallor of the face, increased sweating.

There are also indirect signs mild concussion. Symptoms of such damage are often blurred, it is especially difficult to determine accurate diagnosis in a child or adolescent, focusing only on visual examination and questioning.

The doctor will definitely measure the patient's pressure and pulse, possibly several times over a short period of time. Even with a slight concussion, the pressure will fluctuate, and the pulse will quicken.

Other indirect symptoms include:

  1. Memory lapses, slow reactions.
  2. Confused answers to simple questions.
  3. Violated diction - "weaving" language.
  4. Lethargy, emotional lability.

All these symptoms in most cases go away on their own after a few hours, sometimes days. But this does not mean that changes in the brain have not occurred and medical supervision is not needed.

A mild concussion can be treated at home, but the doctor will first send the victim for an x-ray. Upon detection serious damage may additionally perform CT or MRI, consultation with a neurosurgeon and an ophthalmologist, possibly a neuropathologist.

First aid to the patient

It is important to know what to do with a mild concussion in order to be able to provide first aid to the victim in extreme conditions when doctors and hospitals are not available. If there is a suspicion of a concussion in a child, measures must be taken immediately - the further well-being and development of the baby depends on the promptness and correctness of the actions of parents or other adults.

Undiagnosed and untreated brain injuries can lead to reduced or complete loss of essential functions: vision, hearing, speech, etc., - to nervous disorders, mental disability.

So, what should be done if there is a person with a head injury nearby, and doctors and hospitals are not yet available:

  • if the victim lies on the ground and cannot get up on his own, he should not be disturbed - perhaps other parts of the body, back or limbs, were also injured in addition to the head. Gently turn it on its side, put a sufficiently dense and hard object under your head;
  • If the injured person is unable to stand up, help him get up and get to the emergency room on foot or by taxi. Public transport strictly prohibited;
  • children are transferred to the hospital in their arms, carefully holding their heads in one position.

In no case should the patient be given any medication to drink before the doctor's examination. Firstly, you still do not know exactly what happened to him, which drug will help, and which one will only harm. Secondly, the pain pill can make it difficult further diagnostics. Therefore, the victim must be patient, even if the bruised place hurts very much. For the same reasons, you can not apply either cold or hot to the bruise, make compresses or use tight bandages.

Which specialist to contact

If the victim arrived at medical institution on the ambulance, then the traumatologist or surgeon on duty will examine him in the emergency room. If the patient goes to the district clinic on his own some time after the injury, then it makes sense to first turn to family doctor, and then the choice of such narrow specialists:

  • traumatologist;
  • neurosurgeon;
  • neuropathologist.

It is possible that an ophthalmologist, an otolaryngologist will be connected during the examination. The same specialists monitor the course of treatment and evaluate the results.

How to Treat a Mild Concussion

Very rarely, there are indications for placing a patient in a hospital with such injuries. Usually therapy is carried out at home, it provides for the following main points:

  1. Bed rest for at least 14 days for adults and at least 20 for children.
  2. An exception heavy loads on the brain: you can not read for a long time, watch TV, work at the computer.
  3. Emotional shakings, experiences are forbidden, complete peace is needed.
  4. Long-term communication even with close people, mental stress is also prohibited.
  5. Security favorable conditions for the patient: if he is worried about photophobia, you need to close the windows with curtains, try not to make noise, do not talk loudly, do not slam the door, warn about the need to keep the silence of households and neighbors.

Concerning drug therapy, the need for it arises only in special cases. Sometimes after an injury, the patient complains of insomnia, lack of appetite, apathy. To improve well-being and normalize the regimen, the doctor may prescribe light sedatives. medications. good effect give folk remedies: valerian tincture, decoction of motherwort, linden and mint tea at bedtime.

At severe pain analgesics are prescribed, but a second consultation with a doctor and an additional examination are also necessary. Perhaps complications develop. Further medications are prescribed depending on the results of the examination and the patient's well-being. Physiotherapy, massages, and walks in the fresh air will help you get back on your feet faster.

Conclusion

A mild concussion is not in itself considered a life-threatening injury requiring hospitalization and surgical treatment. But complications are not excluded, they can appear after a few months or years. Therefore, it is important not to ignore even minor symptoms, consult a doctor on time and follow all his recommendations.

The brain controls all processes in the body. The maintenance of homeostasis depends on the coherence and correct functioning of its structures. That is why lesions of the central nervous system are so dangerous, especially in childhood. Concussion is a condition that is more often recorded in schoolchildren, but can also be diagnosed in infants. This pathology accompanied by a violation of the connection between neurons and a disorder of their functions. The problem is one of the craniocerebral injuries, and is its mildest form.

Toddlers can manifest themselves in different ways. In pediatrics, the symptoms of a concussion in children are described in great detail, since they differ in significant variability. Therefore, parents need to be especially careful if an injury is suspected. A separate problem is the diagnosis of the disease in a newborn, since the clinical picture is often smoothed. Concussion is dangerous for the formation of consequences for the health of babies in the future. If symptoms such as irritability of the child, vomiting, dizziness or loss of consciousness occur, it is required to as soon as possible seek medical attention. Treatment comes down to medical correction the condition of patients, as well as the introduction of temporary restrictions in their lifestyle.

The problem is related to the number of traumatic lesions. Pathological changes in nervous tissue, are associated both with a violation of the normal circulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and with communication failures between neurons. This happens at the moment of touching the cerebral tissues inner surface skulls. The main causes of concussion in children are the following events:

  1. Lack of parental control. A similar problem often leads to the development of injuries in infants. Toddlers often fall off beds, sofas and chairs, which is accompanied by with a strong blow head. Despite the cushioning system located in the skull, severe neurological disorders often occur.
  2. In one-year-olds, concussions most often occur while learning to walk. They can often stumble and fall, hitting their heads. That is why during this period of a child's life, parents are advised to observe the babies, even if they are already confidently on their feet.
  3. IN preschool age patients are more likely to present with injuries sustained during independent play or interaction with peers. Children become more mobile. At the same time, not all kids adequately assess their abilities. High-altitude injuries are the most dangerous, because they can end fatally.
  4. Up to 40% of patients admitted to children's hospitals with concussions are children adolescence. Rollerblading, skateboarding, or biking without a helmet can result in serious injury. In some cases, injuries are inflicted on the child by their own parents when abuse occurs.

Severity

Therapy and outcome of the disease depend on the severity pathological changes. Therefore, it is important to correctly assess the clinical picture of the lesion. In this regard, in medicine it is customary to distinguish three degrees of severity of concussion in a child, which have different signs:

  1. Light damage may not manifest itself in any way. The main symptoms are pain and dizziness. At the same time, patients remain conscious even immediately after injury. In the presence of a mild degree of concussion, hospitalization of the child is not required. After the examination, the doctor writes out recommendations, and all necessary treatment performed on an outpatient basis. If the parents witnessed the injury, but the baby has no complaints, the patient still needs to be taken to the doctor to rule out problems in the future.
  2. Moderate severity is associated with a more vivid clinical picture. In addition to disorientation and headaches, children develop nausea. It is associated with more significant disruption of the cerebral structures. Often there is not only a concussion, but also damage to the bones of the skull, which in babies is much softer than in adults. Depending on the expression clinical picture hospitalization may be required. In the future, the child needs to limit physical and mental stress for the period of rehabilitation.
  3. The third degree of severity of traumatic brain injury is life-threatening for patients. It is associated with loss of consciousness. This symptom always indicates pronounced disorders occurring in the cerebral structures. Children suffer from sensory disturbances, dilated and trembling pupils, memory loss, and symptoms of of cardio-vascular system such as hypertension and tachycardia. Such a condition requires emergency assistance. Children with a third degree of severity of concussion are hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

Symptoms and signs

The clinical picture of the disease in each case is individual. It largely depends on the intensity of the formation of pathological failures in the work of the central nervous system. The time that has elapsed since the injury is also important. The symptoms of a concussion in a child are as follows:

  1. Headache and discoordination of movements associated with loss of orientation in space. In infants, these signs are accompanied by lack of appetite and tearfulness. Older patients are more likely to complain of malaise and constant fatigue.
  2. The appearance of nausea and vomiting, which is not associated with eating. This sign is considered one of the most common. It can manifest itself both immediately after the injury, and several days later. In infants and newborns, constant regurgitation is noted.
  3. Loss of consciousness is associated with a poorer prognosis, as it occurs as a result of severe damage to the tissues of the central nervous system. In severe cases, cardiac and respiratory arrest is also possible, in which resuscitation is indicated.
  4. Paleness of the skin, which is replaced by their redness. Similar symptoms are associated with damage to the center responsible for the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Along with these signs, instability of the pulse and blood pressure indicators is noted.
  5. At a more adult age, changes in the character of the child testify to a concussion. He becomes withdrawn or slow. In some cases, on the contrary, increased irritability which is typical for teenagers.

Diagnostics

In order to identify a concussion, as well as determine the severity of the disease, you will need to undergo comprehensive examination. The doctor examines the patient and collects anamnesis, evaluates the main reflexes. X-rays are taken to confirm or exclude the presence of fractures of the skull and neck. In case of suspicion of severe lesions brain structures doctors use computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. For condition assessment internal organs blood and urine tests will be required. In young children whose fontanel has not yet grown, ultrasound is used. It allows you to detect the accumulation of fluid in the cranial cavity, which most often indicates the formation of a hematoma or edema.

Treatment Methods

Disease control is based on medical support patients. Drugs are used various groups:

  1. Diuretics, especially osmotic diuretics such as Mannitol, are widely used in the fight against traumatic brain injuries and have good feedback doctors.
  2. An important role is played by the appointment of painkillers. Both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid drugs are used.
  3. Nootropics, such as Piracetam, can speed up the process of restoring the function of nervous tissue.
  4. To combat vomiting, drugs such as Cerucal and Latran are used.

If diagnosed slight concussion sufficient restriction of the child's mobility. If the third degree of severity of the disease is detected, oxygen therapy is performed. If there is damage to the bones of the skull or the patient's condition worsens, they resort to an operation.

In many cases, traumatic brain injuries in children are associated with amateur or professional sports. Therapy of such conditions in adults and young patients is not fundamentally different. Medicines are used that allow you to deal with the symptoms of the lesion. It is important to understand that there is no specific drug that would help eliminate a concussion. All measures taken by doctors are aimed at maintaining and accelerating the body's natural recovery processes.

The most common drug used in pediatrics to treat a concussion is Paracetamol. It is one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, has an analgesic effect and helps to reduce body temperature. Since traumatic brain injuries are often associated with chronic disorders sleep, "Melatonin" is widely used. This hormonal agent, which is used both in the acute period and during the rehabilitation of patients. Tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed for children who have had a concussion to restore cognitive functions. If patients have seizures, the use of Amantadine is also justified.

First aid

Before the arrival of doctors, you should try to stabilize the child's condition. The use of any medication is not recommended. It is important to control the pulse and breathing, and in their absence, proceed to resuscitation. Apply to the site of injury cold compress to prevent severe swelling. If the child is unconscious, he is laid on his right side, bending left hand and leg at a right angle.

Complications and consequences

With a severe degree of damage, a concussion threatens the life of the baby. Lack of adequate treatment leads to cardiac and respiratory arrest. Even with a minor lesion, the risk of complications remains. They are manifested in a decrease in the ability to concentrate, developmental delays, speech and visual impairment. To prevent similar problems If an injury occurs, seek medical attention.

The most harmless form of traumatic brain injury is a microconcussion. In this case, the layers of brain tissue are shifted relative to each other, due to which nutrition nerve cells getting worse. When a person gets a mild concussion, the symptoms last for a short period of time. Loss of consciousness in this state is usually not observed.

Signs of a mild concussion

Microconcussion occurs due to various injuries that a person can receive in Everyday life. The danger is frequent concussions. With age, they can give complications in the form of constant headaches, memory loss.

The causes of SGM can be:

  • blow to the head;
  • the fall;
  • traffic accident;
  • non-compliance with safety regulations at work;
  • sports.

With a mild form of concussion, most often occurs headache, dizziness, nausea. Painful condition persists for 15 minutes. Over time, the symptoms subside. A person may feel weakness and pain in the head area for several days.

Signs of concussion 1 degree:

  • throbbing pain in the head;
  • buzzing in the ears;
  • dizziness;
  • pale complexion;
  • Difficulty focusing on one object
  • nausea;
  • weakness;
  • difficulties with coordination of movement;
  • increased sweating;
  • lack of appetite;
  • minor memory lapses;
  • drowsiness.

Important! Even with a slight concussion, you should immediately consult a doctor. Man feels good visible damage there is no head, but at this time a hematoma can form in the impact zone, which compresses the brain tissue. This condition requires immediate hospitalization.

How is the diagnosis carried out

As a rule, X-rays are used for head injuries. In this case, small cracks in the bones of the skull, even fractures, can be seen in the picture. Electroencephalography is prescribed to examine the functions of the cerebral cortex. Also, the victims are diagnosed using CT and MRI.

Examining and questioning the patient, the doctor assumes a microconcussion on the basis of indirect signs- slow speech, impaired diction, mood instability. Using a special Glasgow scale, the traumatologist determines the degree of impaired consciousness.

Important! After a concussion, the patient needs complete rest. You can not play sports and heavy physical labor. It is necessary to contact a medical institution for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The difficulty lies in the fact that not always CT or MRI can show brain damage. Recognizing the disease can be difficult. The diagnosis of mild concussion is based on clinical symptoms.

First aid for mild concussion

The victim should be placed on a flat surface. Place a cushion under his neck. Call an ambulance immediately. Before the doctor arrives, the patient should not be allowed to sleep. A cold compress is applied to the site of impact. The victim can drink only warm sweet tea or water. But it's important to remember that plentiful drink induces vomiting.

If a person's condition worsens, he loses consciousness, you need to turn him on his side so that he does not choke on vomit. Be sure to monitor the victim's breathing and pulse before the ambulance arrives.

Treatment of microconcussion

To establish a diagnosis, you need to contact a traumatologist or neurosurgeon. Depending on the severity, a concussion can be treated in the hospital or at home. Drug therapy aimed at restoring brain function and eliminating symptoms.

Treatment of CGM in adults and adolescents is carried out with the help of drugs. The victims are prescribed painkillers - Pentalgin, Analgin, Baralgin. In case of vomiting, antiemetics (Cerukal) are used. Corvalol, motherwort tincture, is prescribed as a sedative.

To restore brain function, the victim needs to take nootropic drugs (Piracetam, Lucetam), which improve brain activity. To reduce edema, dehydrants (Diacarb) are prescribed. Sometimes diuretics are shown - Lasix, Arifon.

Vasotropic drugs (Oxybral, Vasotropin) are prescribed to improve blood circulation in the brain, relieve vasospasm. For normalization intracranial pressure apply Mexidol, Actovegin. To improve blood circulation and reduce blood viscosity, Cinnarizine is prescribed.

For rehabilitation, the victims need vitamins and minerals. Doctors prescribe phosphorus to patients, folic acid, magnesium, pyridoxine (vitamin B). You can take the tablets at home for several weeks.

After a concussion, the patient is shown bed rest. Sports activities must be stopped. It is not recommended to read, watch TV and sit at the computer for a week.

Important! In case of a head injury, the victim can be given a sniff ammonia. Then be sure to go to the hospital. The patient should be treated according to the recommendations of the doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable.

What to do with a mild concussion in children

Young children are very active and inquisitive. They have no sense of fear. They do not always understand where the danger may lie. When children fall to the ground, they do not protect their heads, they do not put their hands up. The injury rate among children is high. Babies under one year old get concussions when they fall off the changing table, bed, or stroller. The cause of the injury in the child in this case is the oversight of the parents.

These injuries usually have a favorable prognosis and rarely lead to serious consequences. Immediately after the injury, the child may feel great, and after some time there are pains in the head, nausea, vision weakens, the kids begin to act up and cry.

In the event of a fall, hitting the head on a hard object, an ambulance should be called immediately. A child with suspected TBI will be taken to the hospital, where he will be examined by a neuropathologist, traumatologist or neurosurgeon. Even if the baby does not complain of pain, the consequences of the fall sometimes appear later.

Important! It is impossible to treat microconcussion in children with folk remedies.

The child is in the hospital full examination. To determine the degree of brain damage, skull radiography, neurosonography, CT, MRI, and electroencephalography are prescribed.

Children with confirmed SHM should be under strict medical supervision for several days. To prevent complications (cerebral edema, accumulation of blood in the skull, convulsions), you need to stay with the baby in the hospital for 7 days. The likelihood of such complications is small, but it is better to be treated in a hospital, so as not to harm the health of the child. The treatment lasts about one week.

As a drug therapy, children are prescribed diuretic drugs (Diakarb), sedatives, antihistamines(Suprastin). For headaches, Sedalgin is used, for nausea - Cerucal.

Guard nurses and the attending physician control the child's condition. In case of deterioration, an additional examination is carried out, diagnostics using CT, EEG.

A week later, the child is discharged from the hospital home. At home, you need to observe bed rest, continue the course drug treatment. If the condition worsens, you should consult a doctor again. Usually, all concussion symptoms go away after two weeks without complications.

Small children with microconcussion need hospitalization so as not to miss more serious complications. Timely contact with a doctor allows you to exclude serious consequences.

Concussion is the most common easily reversible brain dysfunction. It occupies a leading position among traumatic brain injuries. The causes of concussion can be both accidents on the roads, industrial, and injuries received at home, sports; An important factor is the criminal component. At the heart of this phenomenon, according to medical scientists, are functional disorders, in which there is a failure of communication between nerve cells.

Head injuries are different, of this variety, concussion in clinical manifestations, the most poorly expressed, and the least studied in terms of pathomorphological. Currently, the term concussion is understood as one of the forms of TBI, as a result of which there were violations of brain functions without the presence of vascular disorders.

What Happens During a Concussion

Concussion occurs not only as a result of a direct impact on the head (a blow to the skull, a fall), but also when the patient falls on the buttocks or makes strong jumps on the feet due to the axial load of the spine.
To understand the causes of the ongoing processes as a result of a concussion in both adult patients and children, you need to understand the big picture.

IN normal condition the brain, occupying a closed space in the cranium, is in a "floating" position in cerebrospinal fluid. When there is a sharp physical impact on him, he continues to move by inertia, but this is already the direction opposite to the impact. For this reason, the fluid pressure between the wall of the cranium and the brain increases sharply. There is a hydraulic impact on the brain or even a mechanical one, which depends on the strength of the blow.

At the other pole, a negative pressure is formed, causing even more trauma to tissue structures. The brain begins to make oscillatory movements, which are accompanied by repeated injuries. In addition, the brain can be displaced around the axis, which causes damage to the part of the bones of the skull that have protrusions. In a word, we can say that the magnitude of injuries is directly dependent on the strength of a sudden blow.

Relevance

As already mentioned, concussion occupies a leading position among brain injuries and, according to studies, its share is up to eighty percent. If we talk about the social and medical significance, then it is also great, due to a number of reasons:

  • Firstly, a large number different types injuries that occur at home, at work, while driving, in the sports arena, etc.
  • Secondly, the disease is difficult to diagnose, especially when the patient does not have a loss of consciousness or is in drunkenness, and this happens in almost every third case.

The difficulty in diagnosing is also associated with the presence of such diseases in patients, especially the elderly, as osteochondrosis. cervical spine, cerebrovascular insufficiency, hypertension and others. Another reason that makes it difficult to make a diagnosis is the lack of qualified medical staff.

Studies show world organization health care, approximately 25 percent of patients who have ever had a concussion are irritable, easily fatigued, suffer from headaches, and have episodes of disorientation. In some cases, the process is exacerbated and leads to cognitive problems, characterized by failures in mental perceptions, difficulty in processing information that comes from outside.

Similar disorders of brain function can be observed in patients who are diagnosed with schizophrenia, autism and some other mental disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing often shows structural changes brain departments responsible for these processes. However, to establish the causes that cause these disorders in some patients who have undergone brain injury, and do not cause others until it fails.
All this suggests that it is necessary to treat not only severe cases of concussion, but mild ones.

Symptoms

When is the diagnosis made? this disease related to a traumatic brain injury of a closed nature, then the absence of bone damage is implied. Often under a concussion there is more dangerous violations and damage. For example, this often happens when epileptic fit, falling, especially after taking alcohol, when the patient, hitting something hard, gets a fracture of the thin inner plate of the cranial bone. At the same time, no damage is visible externally, and the symptoms indicate only a slight concussion, and in other cases, even such symptoms are absent.

The process has stages, as a result of which the intracranial hematoma that presses on the brain. Manifestation occurs only after one and a half to two weeks in the form severe symptoms. Such damage requires urgent surgical intervention and the outcome may not always be favorable. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in time in order to conduct a correct and most importantly timely diagnosis.

Abroad, in some cases, the severity of the concussion was classified based on how long it lasted. total loss or confusion in the patient, as well as the duration of memory loss (complete or partial), while not taking into account the rest of the symptoms. Today, medicine does not divide concussion into degrees. This disease is considered mild form closed TBI. Its main symptoms are as follows:

  • Loss of consciousness. This symptom may be present for only a few seconds, sometimes 30 minutes. However, only in 70 percent of cases accompanies this disease. Sometimes it can be accompanied by memory loss, so it is not always possible to detect loss of consciousness in trauma.
  • Nausea. As a rule, one-time vomiting, but its repeated manifestations occur.
  • Headache. In most cases, it is characterized by a pulsation in the back of the head.
  • Dizziness. It reveals itself mainly when the patient turns his head, opens his eyes and looks away.
  • Reaction to strong sound, bright light. It under these circumstances is higher than in ordinary patients.
  • Lethargy, apathy. Against the background of these symptoms, the patient may be irritable, depressed, sleep poorly. He has impaired memory and concentration.
  • Frequent pulse. It can also be accompanied by sweating, tinnitus, high blood pressure.

When examining a patient, in some cases there is a difference in the diameter of the pupils, and the eyeballs twitch when he begins to look to the side. Among affected young patients (nearly one hundred percent), when streak stimulation is performed skin in the area where it rises thumb, you can observe the contraction of the chin muscles on the same side. This can serve as evidence of a concussion, even if other symptoms are not sufficiently pronounced. In young patients similar signs may be physiologically normal.

Fundus examination sometimes reveals retinal angiopathy. Rarely, there is a slight stiffness of the muscles of the neck, which means the presence of irritated meninges.

Great importance is attached to repeated medical examinations. If there is no bleeding from the nose and ears, a symptom of glasses, then this may indicate a fracture of the base of the skull. In the event that the patient mild form concussions, all signs are not pronounced and disappear in a day, if severe - after 10-14 days. In some cases asthenic signs and neuropsychic changes last up to a year.

Age features

The nature of the manifestation of concussion is largely affected by age factors.
For example, in infants and children younger age this disease most often occurs without loss of consciousness. When an injury occurs, pronounced pallor of the skin is noted, mainly on the face, increased heart rate, after which comes lethargy, the patient is drawn to sleep. During feeding, the child burps, vomiting may be present, anxiety is noticeable, sleep disturbance. Specified symptoms usually disappear within three days. The general condition improves.

Signs of concussion in adults

Elderly patients also have a much higher incidence of loss of consciousness during concussion than in young and middle-aged patients. However, it is often characterized by such a symptom as loss of orientation in space and time. Head pains are often pulsating properties with localization in the back of the head; can last from three days to a week and are more pronounced in patients who suffer from hypertension. There are also frequent dizziness.

Diagnostics

When diagnosing a concussion, it is especially necessary to pay attention to the circumstances of the injury and the reports of eyewitnesses of the incident. Factors may play an ambiguous role psychological state patient, the fact of being in a state of intoxication, and others.

As mentioned above, a concussion may not have pronounced diagnostic signs. In the initial period, which can be calculated in minutes and hours, doctors and other eyewitnesses of the incident may witness a loss of consciousness (within a few minutes), nigstam, that is, twitching eyeballs; the patient may see double, he loses his balance.

At present, any laboratory methods diagnostics of signs of concussion is not applied. Since, it is almost impossible to carry out such a diagnosis:

  • With an illness, there are no cranial fractures of the bones.
  • Deviations of pressure and composition of cerebrospinal fluid are not observed.
  • Ultrasound of displacements and expansions of median structures does not show.
  • Computed tomography does not reveal any trauma in the brain substances and other structures inside the skull in the patient.
  • The study using magnetic resonance imaging also shows no abnormalities.

A concussion, often disguised as more dangerous traumatic lesions, poses a serious threat to the patient's health, and therefore they should be urgently hospitalized in a neurosurgical department, or a hospital of another profile, where he will be provided with appropriate assistance. Basically, the patient will be monitored and examined.

Summing up, it should be noted that a concussion is possible to identify only based on the following:

  • When a patient or those present during an injury report a loss of consciousness.
  • On the patient's complaints of nausea, headache, vomiting, dizziness.
  • With the exclusion of symptoms of a more complex injury, when the loss of consciousness lasted more than half an hour, there were no seizures, paralysis of the limbs.

First aid

If there is a suspicion of a concussion, everything must be done so that the victim is provided with medical treatment as soon as possible. health care, if possible, go to the nearest trauma center, hospital. Where the patient will be examined with an X-ray of the skull. Also, if necessary and with the appropriate equipment, in order to avoid more severe consequences, perform CT or MRI of the brain or M-echoscopy. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is hospitalized. Before he arrives ambulance surrounding the patient should take the following measures:

  • A patient with a concussion, after he regains consciousness, as a rule, this happens quickly, you need to give a comfortable recumbent position, the head should be slightly raised.
  • In the case when the patient is unconscious after the injury, it is better to create the following position. Turn it to the right side, slightly tilt your head back, and turn your face to the floor. Then bend the left leg and arm so that a right angle is observed. This pose will help to create free access of air, and in case of vomiting, it will prevent breathing failure due to a sunken tongue, will not allow saliva to flow, vomit in Airways. If present on the head open wounds bandage must be applied.

Patients affected by a concussion, even with initially mild symptoms, must be sent to a medical facility where initial inspection. They need to establish a three-day bed rest, which, depending on the results of the study and observation of them, can be gradually extended to five days. Subsequently, if there are no complications, it is possible ambulatory treatment up to fourteen days.

Treatment

In most cases, drug therapy is not carried out, basically, the patient is recommended bed rest, calmness, no emotional stress, healthy sleep. Medical treatment can be used to normalize functional states, eliminate headaches, as well as the presence of insomnia and other negative symptoms.

Among the usual set of drugs used, as a rule, these are drugs for pain relief, sedatives, sleeping pills, usually in the form of tablets, but injections can be used depending on the situation and the condition of the patient. For pain relief, the doctor selects a drug that is more suitable for this patient, these can be tablets:

  • maxigan;
  • analgin;
  • Pentalgin and others.

In this way, a medicine is also chosen for dizziness, the most popular of this group of drugs:

  • belloid, microzero, platifillin, cinnarizine and others.

If the patient needs sedatives, then assign:

  • valerian, corvalol, motherwort, and to normalize sleep - relaxon or donarmil. Tranquilizers can also be prescribed: nozepam, afobazole, grandoxin and others.

Tonics are also used, for example, such as ginseng root, pantocrine, lemongrass and others. Older patients who have suffered a concussion are also prescribed treatment for other concomitant diseases.

Among others medicines noopapt preparations that can eliminate, in addition to the symptoms, the consequences of a concussion, are highly trusted. In addition, this remedy is treated at home, the duration of admission is up to two months. Patients show a marked improvement in their condition.

Folk remedies

At the same time with traditional means it is desirable to deal with the consequences of a concussion folk remedies. It is worth mentioning the most popular of them:

  • Thyme. Treatment practice folk methods shows that an infusion of this plant gives positive results. After preparing the infusion, it is filtered and given to the patient in half a glass before meals. However, one should not hope for a quick result. Only after long-term use, which should last at least six months, you can feel a tangible effect.
  • Aralia. Very often, a tincture made from this plant is used to eliminate the effects of a concussion. You need one hundred grams of alcohol bought at a pharmacy for a tablespoon of aralia. The drug is infused for at least three weeks in a dry and dark place. In the morning and afternoon, the patient should take thirty drops.
  • Arnica. This plant goes well with myrtle leaves, brewed and taken to restore memory, has a sedative effect.

Of course, only folk remedies and medicines good result hard to achieve. In addition, the patient must eat right, exercise physiotherapy exercises, he can be assigned a psychologist and a speech therapist, who, in the process of working with the patient, will help to recover faster after a concussion. In addition, there are medical devices that monitor the patient's condition. It is also very important that the patient has constant contact with others. He had the support of his relatives, and most importantly, he himself was interested in a speedy recovery.

Forecast

If the patient will comply with the regime, of course, under the circumstance that he does not have severe course disease, we can talk about a favorable prognosis and full recovery ability to work. In some patients, after undergoing acute period for some time you can observe a weak concentration of attention, memory impairment, depression, expressed in irritability, insomnia, headaches and other symptoms. But within a year after the concussion, such symptoms of concussion of the head gradually smooth out and disappear. As a rule, there is no long-term and persistent disability.

However, in about three percent of patients after a concussion, when there were exacerbations of chronic diseases, or with other repeated injuries, moderate disability may occur, especially when the treatment regimen is not followed.

Finally

It is imperative to adhere to the rule that it is impossible to treat a concussion on your own not immediately or after. The main type of treatment is - the creation of an ideal rest for a patient who has suffered an injury - bed rest for up to two weeks. At this time, any kind of reading, TV should be banned, it is even undesirable for the patient to listen to music.

After the course of treatment, to prevent possible consequences from a concussion and increase the chances of a successful completion of treatment, it is necessary to visit a neurologist's office and follow medical recommendations. If assigned to rehabilitation period medicines, be sure to use them, observing the dosages prescribed by a specialist.

A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury. It can be caused by a bruise, blow, fall, or any other head trauma that causes the head and brain to move back and forth. A concussion shakes the brain inside the skull. Most concussions are mild in the sense that the person is likely to make a full recovery, but sometimes the symptoms are very hard to notice and can develop slowly and last for days or weeks. If you hit your head, you should see a doctor within a day or two to get diagnosed, even if you don't think it's serious. After going to the doctor, you can treat a mild concussion at home.

Steps

First aid for mild concussion

    Take a pain reliever. If a person has headaches, they can take paracetamol for the pain.

    Use ice. If the victim has a bruise or bruise, use ice. Do not apply the ice pack directly to the skin. Wrap it in a towel and apply it to the injured area for 10-30 minutes. Repeat every 2-4 hours for the first 48 hours.

    • If an ice pack is not available, a package of frozen vegetables can be used.
    • Ice also helps relieve headaches.
  1. Don't be alone for 48 hours. When a person has a concussion, he should not be left alone for 48 hours after the injury. The person should be supervised in case serious symptoms begin to appear.