Symptoms of concussion

Symptoms of concussion can be mild to severe, andin some cases emergency treatment may be needed.

The most common symptoms of concussion are:

  • confusion, such as being unaware of your surroundings, a delayin answering questions,or having a blank expression
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • loss of balance
  • feeling stunned or dazed
  • disturbances with vision, such as Double vision , blurred visionor "seeing stars" or flashing lights
  • difficulties with memory

Difficulties with memory can mean:

  • you are unable to remember events that occurred before the concussion happened (this usually only affects the minutes immediately leading up to the concussion)retrograde amnesia
  • you are unable to remember any new information or events after the concussion happenedanterograde amnesia

Bothtypes of memory lossusually improve within a few hours.

Less common symptoms

Less common symptoms include:

  • loss of consciousness
  • slurred speech
  • changes in behaviour, such as feeling unusually irritable
  • inappropriate emotional responses, such as suddenly bursting into laughter or tears

When to seek medical advice

As a precaution, it is recommended that you visit your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department if you or someone in your care has a head injury resulting in concussion and then develops any of the following signs and symptoms:

  • loss of consciousness from which the person then recovers
  • amnesia (memory loss) , such as not being able to remember what happened before or after the injury
  • persistent headaches since the injury
  • changes in behaviour, such as irritability, being easily distracted or having no interest in the outside world this is a particularly common sign in children under the age of five
  • confusion
  • drowsiness that goes on for longer than an hour when you would normally be awake
  • alarge bruise or wound to the head or face
  • prolonged vision problems, such as double vision
  • reading or writing problems
  • balance problems or difficulty walking
  • loss of power in part of the body, such as weakness in an arm or leg
  • clear fluid leaking from the nose or ears (this could be cerebrospinal fluid, which normally surrounds the brain)
  • a black eye with no other damage around the eye
  • sudden deafness in one or both ears

Anyone taking warfarin should seek medical assistance after a head injury, even if they feel well.

Anyone who is drunk or high on recreational drugs should also go to A&E if they have a head injury. It's often easy for others around them to miss signs of a more severe head injury.

Certain thingsmake you more vulnerable to the effects of a head injury, such as:

  • being aged 65 or older
  • a previous history ofbrain surgery
  • having a condition that makes you bleed more easily, such as haemophilia , or having a condition that makes your blood more prone to clotting, such as thrombophilia
  • taking anticoagulant medication (such as warfarin ) to prevent blood clots, or taking low-dose aspirin

When to seek emergency medical treatment

You should phone 999 for an ambulance immediately ifthe person:

  • remains unconscious after the initial injury
  • is having difficulty staying awake, speaking or understanding what people are saying
  • is having a seizure or fit
  • has been vomiting since the injury
  • is bleeding from one or both ears
Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Jun 2016