Concussion is a common form of traumatic brain injury. Usually it is accompanied by a mild disorder of the organ, which occurs as a result of mechanical stress or a sharp movement of the head. Such damage leads to temporary disturbances in communication between neurons. The article talks about how to recognize concussion and how to provide assistance in the event of a similar condition.
Features
This type of damage refers to closed head injuries (ICD-10 code - S00-S09). Sometimes they are even more dangerous than open ones. After all, a person does not attach due importance to this state and does not seek medical help on time. The main risk factor is alcohol consumption. 70% of patients who were diagnosed with closed head injuries (ICD-10-S00-S09 code) were intoxicated.
Health threat
Mechanical damage to the head leads to the fact that the connections between neurons are broken, and nerve cells suffer from a lack of nutrients, and this negatively affects their functions. Do not underestimate the risk of closed injuries. After a strong blow or bruise, you must contact a medical institution. It is recommended to take an x-ray of the head to exclude the appearance of cracks, bruising.
In addition, a neurologist should undergo an examination. It is also important to know how to recognize a concussion in order to provide first aid to the victim in a timely manner.
Degrees of damage
They are determined depending on the severity of the injury and its clinical manifestations. There are three types of concussion:
- Light damage. It is not accompanied by impaired consciousness. The patient may appear disoriented in space. Dizziness, cephalalgia, nausea with a mild concussion usually go away a quarter of an hour after the injury. In some patients, the temperature rises to 37-38 degrees. However, the general condition of patients quickly returns to normal.
- The average degree of damage. With this pathology, there is no loss of consciousness. But the main symptoms (dizziness, cephalgia, nausea, disorientation) do not disappear within a quarter of an hour. Short-term memory loss is possible. As a rule, it is expressed in retrograde amnesia (the patient forgets the events that occurred a few minutes before the injury).
- Severe concussion. Accompanied by a swoon. Loss of consciousness can be both short-term (within one to two minutes), and long (up to several hours). The patient has memory loss (by the type of retrograde amnesia). Symptoms characteristic of a head injury concern the patient for two weeks after the injury. Fatigue, sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, disorientation are observed.
How to recognize a concussion? It should be remembered that any, even minor injury or blow can lead to this damage. Therefore, if a similar event occurred, it is necessary to carefully monitor the human condition. If symptoms of pathology occur, you should consult a doctor.
Key signs of injury
This condition is characterized by the following manifestations:
- Impaired consciousness.
- Dizziness, which is felt at rest and intensifies with a change in body posture, turns, bends. The cause of this symptom is a circulatory disorder in the vestibular apparatus.
- Noise in ears.
- Feeling of nausea, vomiting.
- The feeling of overwhelming.
- Doubling in the eyes. During the movement of the organs of vision (for example, when trying to read), pain is felt.
- Headaches (with a concussion they have a pulsating character).
- Hypersensitivity to light, sounds (not even too loud).
- Motion coordination disorders.
Indirect manifestations of pathology
Additional symptoms of concussion in an adult include:
- Inhibition, slow speech, inability to answer questions normally.
- Violation of orientation in time, in space.
- Attention disorders, memory impairment.
- Excessive activity or lethargy.
- Different pupil widths.
- Lack of appetite.
- Sleep disorders.
In elderly patients, loss of consciousness occurs with this damage less often than in young patients. However, in elderly people there is a violation of orientation in space and time. For them, a characteristic symptom of concussion is a headache in the back of the head, which has a pulsating character. This symptom does not disappear for 3-7 days and is intensely manifested in people suffering from hypertension. Such patients need to be given special attention.
Help Methods
It is important for everyone to have an idea of how to recognize a concussion and how to act in the presence of signs of injury. First of all, if the victim lost consciousness, it is necessary to call an ambulance service.
The person should be laid on a flat hard surface, placed on the right side, bend your knees and elbows. The head must be thrown back and turned towards the floor (ground). This will prevent the entry of fluid into the respiratory tract in case of vomiting. If there are wounds on the head, a bandage should be applied to them to stop the bleeding. If the victim is conscious, it is necessary to lay him on a flat surface.
It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the person, not to allow the patient to fall asleep. It is recommended to raise his head, apply a cold compress. A victim who is in a swoon must not be moved or turned over. If small or sharp objects, loose substances or liquids are located next to the patient, these things are eliminated, otherwise they may get into the respiratory tract. A conscious person is not recommended to consume a lot of water. If thirsty, a small amount of sweet tea is allowed.
Therapy Features
The doctor should provide further assistance to the person. The specialist has a clear idea of how to recognize a concussion, its degree, how to choose the necessary treatment methods. If this condition occurs, the patient should immediately contact the emergency room regardless of well-being. Therapy is carried out either at home or in the neurological department of the hospital.
The main thing in the treatment of this pathology is compliance with bed rest, a sufficient amount of sleep, rest, lack of physical and psychological stress, especially during the first few days after damage. In this case, the patient recovers quickly, he has no complications. The patient is forbidden to watch TV, play computer games, read, play sports.
Listening to calm music (without using headphones) is allowed.
Preparations
What can the victim take if symptoms suggesting concussion occur? Treatment at home is aimed at eliminating the signs of trauma (nausea, dizziness, cephalalgia), as well as preventing complications and strengthening the body. Self-medication is unacceptable, all drugs are taken only on the recommendation of a specialist.
Prescribed medications that improve blood circulation, tonic. The most popular drugs include Nootropil, Picamilon, Cavinton. They are used in the form of tablets, injections. In addition, herbal remedies (lemongrass, ginseng), as well as vitamin complexes are prescribed. As additional methods of therapy, osteopathy and acupuncture are recommended. As a rule, subject to the doctor’s prescriptions, after one to two weeks the person’s well-being normalizes.
Probable complications
If you do not go to a medical institution and ignore therapy, health problems can occur after an injury. Three percent of patients have epileptic seizures, severe asthenic syndrome, hemicrania. Some patients experience minor complications that disappear after a while. The consequences of trauma include a decrease in memory and concentration of attention, a feeling of weakness, depressive disorders, periodic cephalgia, emotional instability, irritability, and sleep disturbances. In most patients, these symptoms become less pronounced and disappear within a year. In others, these manifestations remain throughout life.
Some time after the injury, each patient is advised to undergo electroencephalography. This examination will allow you to identify the possible consequences of damage in time.