Home Health Center Concussion   Concussion - Symptoms

Symptoms of Concussion


The signs and symptoms of concussion can range from severe to mild and can vary from case to case. Symptoms may appear immediately after the trauma or may not be noticed until days later. There are several situations where the person may look fine but they may be feeling differently and cannot pinpoint exactly what is wrong. In such instances, it is important to trust one's instincts and contact a doctor at the earliest to report any possible symptoms of a concussion.

Symptoms include:

  • Headache
  • Drowsiness
  • Altered state or complete loss of consciousness
  • Amnesia
  • Inability to process simple instructions and carry out simple tasks
  • Lack of concentration and alertness
  • Confusion
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Seeing flashing lights
  • Irritability and intolerance of loud noises
  • Mood swings and depressive episodes
In case a person exhibits any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor or emergency room immediately:

  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Muscle weakness in either one side of the body or both
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Confusion that does not abate with time
  • Cannot recognize people or places
  • Coma
  • Vomiting that does not stop
  • Pupil that dilate unevenly
  • Irregular or abnormal eye movements
  • Unsteady gait
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Changes in behavior
  • Changes in speech – slurring, makes no sense when talking
  • Difficulty in waking / a constant feeling of drowsiness
  • Fever
  • Headache that worsens with time or does not respond to painkillers
  • Blood or fluid from the ears or nose
  • Children who have been injured and do not stop crying / cannot be consoled
  • Children who have problems nursing or feeding following an injury

Causes
Diagnosis
References
  1. Bruce J. Diamond, Samuel C. Shiflett, Nancy Feiwel, Robert J. Matheis, Olga Noskin, Jennifer A. Richards, Nancy E. Schoenberger, Ginkgo biloba extract: Mechanisms and clinical indications, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 81, Issue 5, May 2000, Pages 668-678, ISSN 0003-9993, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9993(00)90052-2.