Content Map Terms

British Columbia Specific Information

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a serious head injury will help you get the right care. Speak with a health care provider about the injury as soon as possible. If you think a head injury might be serious, call 9-1-1 or visit an emergency department right away. For non-emergency information or advice, call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse any time of the day, every day of the year.

If your child’s health care provider finds no signs of a serious head injury, you may be advised to monitor your child in the hours, days and weeks following the injury. Only when your child’s health care provider advises you that it is safe for your child to go home in your care, follow the advice on caring for your child at home:

BC Children’s Hospital – Head Injury Advice for Parents and Caregivers

For more information about head injury, including concussion recognition, diagnosis, treatment and management, see:

Condition Basics

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. Although there may be cuts or bruises on the head or face, there may be no other visible signs of a brain injury.

You don't have to pass out (lose consciousness) to have a concussion. Some people will have obvious symptoms of a concussion, such as passing out or forgetting what happened right before the injury. But other people won't. With rest, most people fully recover from a concussion. Some people recover within a few hours. Other people take a few weeks to recover.

It's important to know that after a concussion the brain is more sensitive to damage. So while you are recovering, be sure to avoid activities that might injure you again.

In rare cases, concussions cause more serious problems. Repeated concussions or a severe concussion may lead to long-lasting problems with movement, learning, or speaking. Because of the small chance of serious problems, it is important to contact a doctor if you or someone you know has symptoms of a concussion.

What causes it?

Your brain is a soft organ that is surrounded by spinal fluid and protected by your hard skull. Normally, the fluid around your brain acts like a cushion that keeps your brain from banging into your skull. But if your head or your body is hit hard, your brain can crash into your skull and be injured.

There are many ways to get a concussion. Some common ways include fights, falls, playground injuries, car crashes, and bike crashes. Concussions can also happen while participating in any sport or activity such as football, boxing, hockey, soccer, skiing, or snowboarding.

What are the symptoms?

It is not always easy to know if someone has a concussion. You don't have to pass out (lose consciousness) to have a concussion.

Symptoms of a concussion range from mild to severe and can last for hours, days, weeks, or even months. If you notice any symptoms of a concussion, contact your doctor.

Symptoms of a concussion fit into four main categories:

Thinking and remembering.

Not thinking clearly
Feeling slowed down
Not being able to concentrate
Not being able to remember new information

Physical.

Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Fuzzy or blurry vision
Dizziness
Sensitivity to light or noise
Balance problems
Feeling tired or having no energy

Emotional and mood.

Easily upset or angered
Sad
Nervous or anxious
More emotional

Sleep.

Sleeping more than usual
Sleeping less than usual
Having a hard time falling asleep

Symptoms in young children

Young children can have the same symptoms of a concussion as older children and adults. But sometimes it can be hard to tell if a small child has a concussion. Young children may also have symptoms like:

Crying more than usual.
Headache that does not go away.
Changes in the way they play or act.
Changes in the way they nurse, eat, or sleep.
Being upset easily or having more temper tantrums.
A sad mood.
Lack of interest in their usual activities or favourite toys.
Loss of new skills, such as toilet training.
Loss of balance and trouble walking.
Not being able to pay attention.

Symptoms in older adults

Concussions in older adults, 65 years of age and older, can also be dangerous. This is because concussions in older adults are often missed. If you are caring for an older adult who has had a fall, check him or her for symptoms of a concussion. Signs of a serious problem include a headache that gets worse, increasing confusion, or both. See a doctor right away if you notice these signs. If you are caring for an older adult who takes a blood thinner and who has had a fall, take him or her to a doctor right away, even if you don't see any symptoms of a concussion.

Post-concussive syndrome

Sometimes after a concussion you may feel as if you are not functioning as well as you did before the injury. This is called post-concussive syndrome. New symptoms may develop, or you may continue to be bothered by symptoms from the injury, such as:

Changes in your ability to think, concentrate, or remember.
Headaches or blurry vision.
Changes in your sleep patterns, such as not being able to sleep or sleeping all the time.
Changes in your personality such as becoming angry or anxious for no clear reason.
Lack of interest in your usual activities.
Changes in your sex drive.
Dizziness, light-headedness, or unsteadiness that makes standing or walking difficult.

If you have symptoms of post-concussive syndrome, call your doctor.

How is it diagnosed?

Any person who may have had a concussion needs to see a doctor. If a doctor thinks that you have a concussion, he or she will ask questions about the injury. Your doctor may ask you questions that test your ability to pay attention and your learning and memory. Your doctor may also try to find out how quickly you can solve problems. He or she may also show you objects and then hide them and ask you to recall what they are. Then the doctor will check your strength, balance, coordination, reflexes, and sensation.

Neuropsychological tests have become more widely used after a concussion. These tests are only one of many ways that your doctor can find out how well you are thinking and remembering after a concussion. These tests can also show if you have any changes in emotions or mood after a concussion.

Sometimes a doctor will order imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI to make sure your brain is not bruised or bleeding.

How is a concussion treated?

Right away

After being seen by a doctor, some people have to stay in the hospital to be watched. Others can go home safely. If you go home, follow your doctor's instructions. He or she will tell you if you need someone to watch you closely for the next 48 hours or longer.

In the days or weeks after

Some people feel normal again in a few hours. Others have symptoms for weeks or months. The first and most important step in recovery from a concussion is to rest for a maximum of 2 days. It is very important to allow yourself time to get better and to slowly return to your regular activities. If your symptoms come back when you are doing an activity, stop and rest for a day. This is a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard. It is also important to call your doctor if you are not improving as expected or if you think that you are getting worse instead of better.

Here are some tips to help you get better:

Get plenty of sleep at night, and take it easy during the day.
Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs.
Do not take any other medicines unless your doctor says it is okay.
Avoid activities that are physically or mentally demanding (including housework, exercise, schoolwork, video games, text messaging, or using the computer). You may need to change your school or work schedule while you recover.
Ask your doctor when it's okay for you to drive a car, ride a bike, or operate machinery.
Use ice or a cold pack on any swelling for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
Use pain medicine as directed. Your doctor may give you a prescription for pain medicine or recommend you use a pain medicine that you can buy without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol).

Concussion and sports

A person who might have a concussion needs to immediately stop any kind of activity or sport. Being active again too soon increases the person's risk of having a more serious brain injury. Be sure to see a doctor before returning to play.

How can you prevent it?

To reduce your chances of getting a concussion:

Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a car or other motor vehicle.
Never drive when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Make your home safer to prevent falls.

Wear a helmet for any activity that can cause a fall or impact to the head or neck. Examples include bike riding, football, baseball, ATV riding, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, and horseback riding. Helmets help protect your skull from injury. But brain damage can occur even when a helmet is worn.

To reduce your child's chances of getting a concussion: