Concussions in children under 6 years of age continue to affect their health even three months after the accident. This is the result of the following study. Miriam Beauchampprofessor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Sainte-Justine Hospital.
Using a new measurement tool for young children, Beecham and his team demonstrate that concussions in early childhood cause a significant increase in post-concussion symptoms that are not solely due to the general effects of injury. Did.
The effects of the event three months later include known concussion symptoms such as headaches, nausea, balance problems, and drowsiness, as well as other symptoms typical of this age group, such as excessive irritability, increased crying, and seeking comfort. It also includes behavioral symptoms.
Well-documented effects
The effects of concussions on adults and school-age children are well-documented. But even though significant numbers of young children end up in emergency rooms with concussions, little is known about the long-term effects on them.
To better understand the post-concussion effects, Beauchamp and her team evaluated 303 children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. Of those, 174 of her injuries were concussed, 60 were injured without a concussion, and 69 were concussed. There were no injuries at all.
All were assessed using the Early Childhood Trauma Observation and Symptom Reporting (REACTIONS) Inventory, a validated infant-friendly tool for measuring post-concussion symptoms.
The analysis found that children with concussions were not only better at the time of their first emergency room visit, but also 10 days, 1 month, and 3 months later, compared to children with limb injuries and children with no injuries. It was found that more symptoms were present than in the
Even three months after the concussion, these children had additional physical symptoms, including headaches, sleep disturbances, fatigue, noise sensitivity, and visual disturbances.
Need clear guidelines
“This study highlights the importance of developing clear guidelines and appropriate protocols for managing concussions in young children,” said Beecham.
This study is the first to prospectively map the evolution of postconcussive symptoms in young children over a 3-month period after head injury using a developmentally appropriate measure based on specific observations.
Dominique Dupont, PhD student and lead author of the study, said: “Our results demonstrate that the use of tools such as the REACTIONS inventory, which can be used not only by parents but also in clinical settings, may help diagnose and monitor concussions. It suggests that there is a sex.” This is a symptom seen in young children. ”
About KOALA Cohort
This study used data from the Child Outcomes and Long-Term Abilities After Early Childhood Concussions (KOALA) project, a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter cohort study aimed at documenting the effects of concussions in young children. I did. They were selected from four North American children’s hospitals: Sainte-Justine Hospital and Montreal Children’s Hospital in Quebec, Alberta Children’s Hospital in Alberta, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio.