The CDC Issues New Guidelines for Diagnosing, Treating Children’s Concussions
Jun 10, 2019
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) June 10, 2019 – Brand new children’s concussion guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outline that x-rays and blood tests are not recommended for diagnosing a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Neurology have similar guidelines that deal with sport related concussions in child and adult athletes. The CDC’s new guidelines, however, cover concussions as a result of all possible causes, including car accidents, falls and sport head injuries.
It is estimated that at least 1 million children in the nation sustain concussions every year. “That figure may be even higher,” said Robert Joyce, a traumatic brain injury attorney with Joyce & Reyes in Tampa, Florida. “The exact number is not known due to the under-reporting of concussions.”
The CDC’s new guidelines for treating and managing children’s concussions are the first evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Recommended procedures were chosen based on 25 years of research in managing and dealing with concussions in children.
Concussions are the result of a hit to the head that causes the brain to ricochet from side to side and front to back, damaging brain cells. Repetitive concussions have been found to cause debilitating brain disease in players of football, soccer and other contact sports.
Many people believe that a person needs to be knocked out to have a concussion. That is not the case. Symptoms of a concussion can include: headaches, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light or sound, and unconsciousness.
The new CDC guidelines include:
* Teens, children with existing learning difficulties or a mental illness recover slower than others.
* Blood tests have not been proven to detect concussion and are only useful in research.
* Undiagnosed concussions increase the risk for other incidents and longer recovery times.
* Most symptoms clear within one to three months, however recovery times vary particularly in kids with prior concussions.
* X-rays and CT scans are not effective in detecting a concussion. These tests are done if a physician suspects a more serious head injury,
such as a brain bleed or skull fracture.
* Rest is recommended for the first three days, but not longer. Inactivity may exacerbate symptoms.
The Joyce & Reyes Law Firm, has experience with concussions and traumatic brain injuries to help guide plaintiffs through a claim to get the best financial recovery and the best possible medical care available.
Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A.
307 S Hyde Park Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
Call: 813.251.2007
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