Symptoms and signs
The most common symptoms of a concussion are dizziness, confusion, headache, and loss of memory of the event (amnesia). Other symptoms include tiredness, fuzzy vision, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), slurred speech, not being able to concentrate, problems with balance, irritability, and seizures.
Many people with a concussion have nausea and vomiting; some have vertigo, a feeling that the room is spinning.
A neurological exam by a doctor may be normal except for bruising or other signs of the injury that caused the concussion.
Symptoms may occur immediately after the head injury, or may develop several minutes or hours later. Symptoms may go away after a few minutes or hours, or they may continue for several days or even months.
Complications
Most concussions will get better without complications.
Concussions caused by more serious head injuries can also have skull fractures and bleeding in the brain (intracranial bleeding). This can lead to permanent brain damage. Increasing tiredness or lethargy and not being as aware of things around oneself are danger signs that may mean there has been more serious brain injury.
Patients who have a concussion may develop a post-concussion syndrome. This is when symptoms such as headache, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating continue to occur several months after the head injury.
