Medical negligence? Children with concussions lack urgent follow-up care.

A new study shows that about 100,000 U.S. children visit the emergency room for treatment of a concussion each year.  The study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, also found that more than one-quarter (28%) of these children are discharged from the hospital without instructions to get much needed follow-up care.
 
Follow-up after diagnosis of a concussion is important because emergency room doctors check only for conditions that require immediate attention such as bleeding or swelling in the brain.  However, it is only through follow-up in days following the concussion that the amount of damage caused by the injury can be assessed.  Children should be cleared by a doctor before they return to sports or other activities that may cause a second concussion since repeat concussions can cause cumulative brain damage, especially when the original injury has not fully healed.
 
Concussions are mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) usually caused by a blow to the head. Symptoms include dizziness, confusion, balance problems and vision disturbances. In most cases, people with concussions recover in a few days to weeks with proper rest, but in some cases symptoms such as headaches and insomnia can last weeks for months.

Click here to learn about the signs of brain injury in children.
    
If your child has a traumatic brain injury caused by the negligence of another, you may be able to file an Ohio personal injury claim on behalf of your child.  To learn more, contact the Akron serious injury attorneys at Chester Law Group, 1-800-218-4243.