A concussion is an injury-induced alteration in mental function or level of awareness that may involve a loss of consciousness, can occur without obvious damage to brain structures, and lasts less than 6 hours.

A person who has a concussion may temporarily feel dazed or mildly confused. Some people may not realize they have had a concussion. Consciousness may be lost for a brief time, rarely for more than 15 minutes. Memory for events just before or just after the injury may be lost.

Later, people may experience headache, the sensation of spinning, light-headedness, fatigue, poor memory, inability to concentrate, irritability, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms are called the postconcussion syndrome. People may develop impaired thinking, particularly people who had emotional problems before the concussion. Postconcussion syndrome symptoms are common during the week after concussion and commonly resolve during the second week. However, sometimes, symptoms persist for months or, rarely, years. People who have had a concussion also seem to be more susceptible to another one, particularly if the new injury occurs before symptoms from the previous concussion have completely gone away.

Did You Know... Headache, dizziness, fatigue, poor memory, inability to concentrate, irritability, depression, and anxiety are common after a concussion.

To diagnose a concussion, doctors need to make sure brain structures are not damaged. This is done using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or both. If there is no structural brain damage, only the symptoms need be treated. For concussion, acetaminophenSome Trade Names
TYLENOL
is given for pain. AspirinSome Trade Names
BAYER
or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID—see Pain: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) should not be taken because they interfere with blood clotting and may contribute to bleeding from damaged blood vessels. Rest is the best treatment for a concussion.

Treatment for postconcussion syndrome is based on the severity of the symptoms. Rest and close observation are important. People who experience emotional difficulties may need psychotherapy. Repeated concussions may increase a person's risk in later life for dementia, Parkinson's disease, and depression. People should not return to contact sports after a concussion until all ill effects have resolved and medical evaluation has been completed.

Last full review/revision January 2008 by Kenneth Maiese, MD