Symptoms of concussion

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on September 30, 2024
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The primary symptoms of concussion mainly manifest as, initially, disturbances in consciousness such as patient comas, typically lasting no longer than half an hour. The second is recent memory loss, where the patient is unable to recall the circumstances of the injury. At the time of injury, the patient may also appear pale and experience a drop in blood pressure. Post-injury symptoms can include dizziness, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, poor sleep, reduced memory, lack of concentration, and even tinnitus among various other clinical manifestations.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Is a concussion serious?

Concussion is usually a mild condition where the brain has been injured. Clinically, it manifests as temporary disturbances in consciousness, typically not exceeding half an hour. Another symptom is recent memory loss, as the individual cannot recall the events during the injury. There may also be a decrease in blood pressure or pallor at the time of the injury. Following the injury, symptoms such as dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, memory decline, lack of concentration, or tinnitus can occur. Generally, with 1-2 weeks of treatment, most people can recover from a concussion, so it is not considered a very serious condition.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Is a concussion scary?

Firstly, a concussion is the mildest form of brain injury, mainly characterized by transient consciousness disturbances, generally not lasting more than half an hour. The second characteristic is recent memory loss, with an inability to recall the circumstances of the injury. At the time of the injury, one may also experience pale complexion, blood pressure drop, and pupil constriction. After the injury, some patients may suffer from dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, tinnitus, lack of concentration, and memory decline, among other clinical symptoms. Patients with a concussion generally recover after 1-2 weeks of systematic treatment, and the majority of concussions are recoverable, so they are not as fearsome as believed.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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How to administer first aid for a concussion

After a concussion occurs, the injured should be quickly moved from a dangerous environment to a safe area. The injured person should lie flat and rest quietly without sitting up or standing. The head can be appropriately cooled, and it is important to keep the body warm. For patients who are unconscious, it is necessary to keep the airway clear and closely observe their consciousness and pupils. If there are airway secretions or vomiting, they should be cleaned up promptly. If the patient has already experienced respiratory or circulatory problems, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed. After the aforementioned emergency treatment, the next step is to transport the patient to a nearby well-equipped hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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What to check for a concussion?

A head CT scan for concussion usually does not show organic changes, as it primarily stems from temporary dysfunction of brain neurological functions. The main symptoms include brief disturbances in consciousness, retrograde amnesia, and some patients may also experience a series of clinical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. For patients with concussion, what we need to do is a head CT scan or an MRI of the head to rule out organic brain lesions. The second option is to examine the cerebrospinal fluid. The third option is to conduct an electroencephalogram (EEG) test.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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How to diagnose a concussion?

Concussion typically involves functional impairment of brain activities. His head CT showed no organic damage. The main clinical symptoms include transient consciousness disturbances and recent memory loss after the injury. Some patients may experience significant symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia, among other clinical symptoms. For concussion patients, the first step is to conduct a head CT to rule out intracranial organic injuries, followed by cerebrospinal fluid examination, and then an electroencephalogram test.