Concussions are common among children, especially those who are active in sports. However, a new study finds that parents treating their child's concussion might actually make it worse.
A recent survey conducted by the UCLA Health revealed that parents may inadvertently be making their child's concussion worse because they are following outdated advice on how to treat them, Fox 2 reported. Waking up your child a couple of times at night to make sure he is okay, ceasing their physical activities, and removing their interaction with peers are some of the wrong ways parents are doing in regard to concussion treatment.
While a child needs to slow down a few days after getting the injury, Dr. Christopher Giza said that when a child has a concussion, it is all the more that he needs sleep and rest. Waking him up at night will only make his headache and his mood worse. Exercise is also recommended particularly when the injury is stable and the activity is safe. Kids should also remain social with their peers as much as they can.
With the possibility of having post-concussion syndrome, parents should consult specialists if the symptoms persist in more than two weeks. This is not something to ignore because a simple concussion, if not treated properly, would have a more damaging effect later in life.
According to The Guardian, research found that children who suffered traumatic brain injury, which includes mild concussion, are at a higher risk of having health and social problems in their adult life. Those who have sustained such injury are 76 percent more likely to be up for disability pension. They are also 58 percent more likely to fail secondary school qualifications and almost twice as likely to have psychiatric disease. Researchers have emphasized the need for parents to be vigilant and to seek medical advice if their child has received an injury such as a blow in the head.
