Concussions and traumatic brain injuries sent more than 248,000 children to hospital emergency departments in 2009, a 57-percent increase over the past decade, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the report, “Nonfatal Traumatic Brain Injuries Related to Sports and Recreation Activities Among Persons Aged ≤19 – United States,” the authors stated that the number of sports and recreation-related ED visits for TBI increased 57 percent from 2001 to 2009. Bicycling, football, playground activities, basketball and soccer were the primary sports involved, the study said.
This increase “might reflect an increased participation in sports and recreation, an increased incidence of TBI among participants, and/or an increased awareness of the importance of early diagnosis of TBI. Because the number of ED visits for TBIs that resulted in hospitalization did not trend upward significantly, increased awareness likely contributed to the increasing number of ED visits for TBI,” the report concluded.
“We believe that one reason for the increase in emergency department visits among children and adolescents may be a result of the growing awareness among parents and coaches, and the public as a whole, about the need for individuals with a suspected TBI to be seen by a health care professional,” said Linda C. Degutis, Dr.P.H., M.S.N., director of CDC′s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Research indicates that young athletes with a TBI experience longer recovery times and are at greater risk of serious outcomes compared to adults. TBI symptoms may appear mild, but the injury can lead to significant life–long impairment affecting an individual′s memory, behavior, learning, and/or emotions. Appropriate diagnosis, management, and education are critical for helping young athletes with a TBI recover quickly and fully.
“While some research shows a child′s developing brain can be resilient, it is also known to be more vulnerable to the chemical changes that occur following a TBI,” said Richard C. Hunt, M.D., director of CDC′s Division for Injury Response.
The cost of traumatic brain injury in the U.S. is estimated at $48.3 billion: $31 billion for hospitalizations and $16.6 billion for costs associated with fatalities.