Children with Severe Concussion Symptoms Take Longer to Heal

A latest study reveals that children with strong concussion symptoms take longer time to recover from head injury.

Researchers from the Boston Children's Hospital and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center examined data collected from 182 children who went to sports concussion clinics within three weeks of the injury. They were assessed on the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale (PCSS), which  checks the severity of the symptoms on a 0-6 range.

The analysts found that the net score on the PCSS was entirely linked to the duration of the concussion the patient suffered from. If the score was higher, the child was likely to have had the symptoms for more than 28 days.

Generally, sports concussions heal within three to four days of the head injury, but for some it stays on for a longer time. However, the researchers said the reasons behind this remain unclear.

The researchers said that the doctors will be able to treat the children better once the risk factors behind the prolonged concussion recovery are identified.

The symptoms included in the PCCS questionnaire were headaches, vomiting, balance problems, sleeping more or less than usual, sensitivity to light or noise, fatigue, numbness, problems with memory or concentration and visual problems.

"Parents, physicians and caregivers of athletes who suffer from a high-degree of symptoms after a sports-related concussion should start preparing for the possibility of a prolonged recovery," study author Dr William Meehan stated in a news release.

According to few previous studies younger patients and children with memory loss had longer recovery duration after concussion.

However, the researchers said that the study did not find any association between prolonged recovery and age or amnesia.