Concussion
Alternate Names : Closed Head Injury, Postconcussive Syndrome
What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?
The American Academy of Neurology has recently established guidelines for
sorting concussions into Grades 1, 2, and 3. Each grade has different symptoms,
and treatment recommendations vary according to the grade.
A person with a Grade 1 concussion does not lose consciousness.
Symptoms of a Grade 1 concussion go away in less than 15 minutes, and may
include:
headache
dizziness
ringing in the ear
confusion
vision changes, including blurred
vision
A person with a Grade 2 concussion does not lose consciousness, and has
symptoms similar to those of a Grade 1 concussion. However, the symptoms last
more than 15 minutes.
A person with a Grade 3 concussion does lose consciousness for
a few seconds to many hours. When the person awakens, he or she may have
many of the symptoms of a Grade 1 concussion, as well as:
loss of awareness
memory loss regarding the events
surrounding the injury, also known as amnesia
seizures
vomiting
difficulty walking
weakness
an altered level of consciousness. The person may be difficult to awaken
or may not be acting normally.
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