Brain & Nervous System Head Trauma Concussions What Every Parent Needs to Know About Concussions Prevention, Treatment and Symptoms By Denise Witmer Denise Witmer is a freelance writer and mother of three children, who has authored several books and countless articles on parenting teens since 1997. Learn about our editorial process Denise Witmer Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO on November 28, 2019 facebook Jonathan Jassey, DO, is a board-certified private pediatrician at Bellmore Merrick Medical in Bellmore, New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Updated on January 30, 2020 Print As teenagers grow older, their sports and recreation activities get a little more rough. Since they are at an age where risk taking behavior is the norm and growth spurts can make them a bit clumsy, injuries tend to occur more often than with adults. Quite frequently, they'll hit their head or crash into something with their body. Both of these types of incidents can cause a concussion. If this describes your teen, you're not alone. From 2001 to 2005, there were an estimated 207,830 emergency department visits for concussions, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Of other traumatic brain injuries related to sports that were reported to the CDC annually, 65 percent were among children age 5 to 18. Cultura RM / Nancy Honey / Getty Images Facts About Concussions You do not need to be knocked out to have a concussion.There is no set number of symptoms that automatically indicates a concussion.If your teenager is showing signs of any symptoms, take them to a healthcare professional for diagnostic testing.Sometimes severe symptoms can take hours or days to show up.Indirect blows such as a 'body slam' in hockey can cause jarring of the brain in the head and result in a concussion. Symptoms Uneven dilated pupilsHeadacheFeeling sick or vomitingBlurred visionPoor coordination or balanceSlurred speechSlow to answer questions or follow directionsIrritabilityAnxiety and depressed moodSleep disturbance. Concussion Categories Grade 1: A mild concussion occurs when the person does not lose consciousness but seems dazed. Grade 2: A slightly more severe form of concussion occurs when the person does not lose consciousness but has a period of confusion and does not recall the event. Grade 3: The classic concussion is the most severe form. It occurs when the person loses consciousness for a brief period of time and has no memory of the event. Evaluation from a health-care provider should be performed immediately. Treatment In most cases, a person will recover from a concussion within a few hours or days. More severe cases of concussion last up to several weeks. The treatment for a concussion is usually to watch the person closely for any change in level of consciousness. The person may need to stay in the hospital for close observation. Surgery is usually not necessary. Headache and dizziness are common, but if the headache persists or becomes severe, it is best to seek medical attention. Prevention Wear safety gear for sports, even when playing recreational sports with friends and family.Wear your seat belt when driving.If you receive a blow, direct or indirect, sit down and take a few minutes to make sure you're ok. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control, CDC.gov, Nonfatal Traumatic Brain Injuries Related to Sports and Recreation Activities Among Persons Aged ≤19 Years --- United States, 2001--2009