Recognizing and Handling a Concussion

Short: A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, usually caused by a blow or impact to the head, leading to temporary brain function disturbances. It requires careful observation, even when the affected person initially seems uninjured.

In more detail: Unlike more severe brain injuries, imaging procedures usually show no visible changes with a pure concussion.

Note: Not a substitute for medical advice.

In detail

• Typical symptoms: Headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or brief loss of consciousness can occur after the impact.
• Delayed symptoms: Some signs like difficulty concentrating or mood swings only appear hours after the accident.
• Immediate measures: After the incident, the affected person should rest and be carefully observed for at least 24 hours.
• Emergency warning signs: Persistent vomiting, increasing confusion, unequal pupil size, or sustained loss of consciousness require immediate medical help.
• Cognitive and physical rest: Screen time, intense physical activity, and mentally demanding tasks should be reduced in the first days after the injury.
• Special consideration for children: Children and teenagers often need longer recovery times than adults after a concussion before returning to sports or school.
• Avoiding repeated impacts: A second head injury before the first has fully healed can lead to significantly more severe, sometimes life-threatening consequences (knochenbruch-erste-hilfe, wiederbelebung-und-defibrillator-grundlagen).