MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 25, 2013
LHSC Children’s Emergency Department experiencing year over year increase in paediatric concussion cases
LONDON, Ontario – You have probably heard the common sayings: “His bell was rung”, “she got dinged at soccer” or “it’s just part of the game”…but is it as simple as that?
A recent review of Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre’s emergency department (ED) data found that the number of children and adolescents seeking treating for a concussion has increased 69 percent over the past five years, with 488 youth concussions treated in our Emergency Department (ED) in 2011. There were a total of 2112 concussions treated in Children’s ED from 2006-11. Two-thirds of the concussions occurred in males (67%) and the median age was 13 years. Nearly half of paediatric concussions were sports and recreation-related (48%), with hockey as the most common activity.
A concussion is a mild brain injury caused by any bump, blow or jolt to the head, or any blow to the body that causes the head to be jolted, jarred or moved rapidly. Signs and symptoms can include headache, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or noise, as well as difficulty concentrating and remembering.
Dr. Douglas Fraser, a physician in the LHSC Paediatric Critical Care Unit and lead researcher of the Western Pediatric Concussion Study Group, is currently undertaking several biomarker and epidemiologic research projects on concussion including an adolescent hockey study funded by the Children’s Health Foundation.
“Concussions are of particular concern for children and teenagers because their brains are still developing and may be more susceptible to the effects of a concussion”, said Fraser. “We are undertaking several concussion studies because it is only through a complete understanding of concussion occurrence, its causes and who is at risk, that targeted interventions to prevent concussion can be implemented.”
What to do if you think you have a concussion:
- Immediately stop performing the current activity whether it is sports, work or school
- Tell somebody; be it a family member, co-worker or coach.
- Do not drive as your vision and thought processing may be impaired
- Seek medical attention – either by going to the nearest emergency room, or by visiting your family doctor
- Most importantly REST. Adults and children should not play sports, exercise or participate in recreational activities
- Activities requiring mental concentration should also be limited, including school/work, reading and all “screen time” including texting, watching television, computer work and electronic games.
“It is important to know when it is appropriate to introduce activities back into your life”, says Fraser. “There are ‘return to play’ and even ‘return to school’ guidelines in which the concussed individual gradually re-introduces activity into their routine, with each step taking a minimum of one day. If symptoms return, return to rest until they resolve before trying any activity again.”
More information can be found at:
2012 Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/5/250.full.pdf+html
Brain Injury Association of London and Region: www.braininjurylondon.on.ca
Parachute Canada: http://www.parachutecanada.org/active-and-safe/item/welcome
Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT 3): http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/5/259.full.pdf
Return to play guidelines: http://www.thinkfirst.ca/programs/documents/TF_Concussion_RTP_E_2012.pdf
About London Health Sciences Centre
London Health Sciences Centre has been at the forefront of medicine in Canada for 138 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, the Kidney Care Centre, two family medical centres, and two research institutes – Children’s Health Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 65 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital’s nearly 15,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information visit www.lhsc.on.ca
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For media inquiries contact:
Kathy Leblanc
Corporate Communications and Public Relations
London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500, ext. 74772
kathy.leblanc@lhsc.on.ca
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