From the Guidelines
Concussion symptoms typically include headache, nausea, impaired balance, difficulties concentrating, confusion, emotional lability, and fatigue, and can be identified using symptom-based tools, although no validated scoring system exists for concussion identification in the first aid setting. According to the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1, concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by rapid head and brain movement, and its symptoms can lead to long-term difficulties with memory, concentrating, fatigue, headache, and other neurological sequelae if repeated. Some key points to consider when evaluating concussion symptoms include:
- The presence of headache, nausea, and impaired balance as common symptoms 1
- The potential for difficulties concentrating, confusion, emotional lability, and fatigue as additional symptoms 1
- The importance of monitoring for repeated concussions, which may lead to long-term neurological sequelae 1
- The lack of a validated scoring system for concussion identification in the first aid setting, highlighting the need for symptom-based assessment 1. Given the potential for long-term difficulties and the importance of proper diagnosis and management, it is crucial to prioritize symptom-based assessment and monitoring for concussion symptoms, particularly in individuals with a history of repeated concussions.
From the Research
Concussion Symptoms
- Concussion is often accompanied by headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbance, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive issues 2
- Common symptoms of concussion include headaches, which can be treated with over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen 3
Treatment of Concussion Symptoms
- The use of over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may not decrease the risk of headache at 7 days post-concussion 3
- However, other studies have found that over-the-counter analgesic use is associated with faster recovery and lower symptom severity scores 4
- Early use of over-the-counter analgesics after injury may be associated with quicker recovery times 4
Psychiatric Symptoms and Concussion
- Concussion can also be accompanied by psychiatric symptoms such as depression 2
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been found to reduce suicidal ideation and depression in some studies 5
- However, the combined use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and NSAIDs or paracetamol may have varying effectiveness and safety outcomes 6