Diagnosing and managing paediatric concussion: Key recommendations for general paediatricians and family doctors

Jennifer Dawson; Nick Reed; Shannon Bauman; Ryan Seguin; Roger Zemek

doi:10.1093/pch/pxab024

Diagnosing and managing paediatric concussion: Key recommendations for general paediatricians and family doctors

Paediatr Child Health. 2021 May 20;26(7):402-407. doi: 10.1093/pch/pxab024. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Authors

Jennifer Dawson¹, Nick Reed², Shannon Bauman^{3

4}, Ryan Seguin⁵, Roger Zemek^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute (CHEO-RI), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Concussion North, Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

Concussion in children and adolescents is an important health concern. Most paediatric patients fully recover in 1 month or less following an acute concussion. However, some experience prolonged or persistent concussion symptoms for months. Those with prolonged post-concussion-related symptoms may have impaired quality of life, and limited involvement in social, academic, and physical activities with associated mental health implications. In this review, we share key updated clinical recommendations from the Living Guideline for Diagnosing and Managing Pediatric Concussion that will improve the way general paediatricians and family doctors diagnose and manage paediatric patients with suspected concussion.

Keywords: Brain; Concussion; Mild traumatic brain injury; Post-concussion syndrome.