Concussion experts in Ottawa launch guidelines for treating kids

Emergency medicine researchers at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation have launched recommendations aimed at treating children and teens with concussions.

Project leaderDr. RogerZemek,director of pediatric emergency research at CHEO, said there was a need for recommendations specifically covering childrenfive to 18 years old, since existing guidelines focuson adults and sport-related injuries.

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"Children and adolescents are actually at a higher risk of developing concussions than adults, and we also know that children are at a higher risk of having prolonged symptoms," Zemek said Wednesday.

"There's been recommendations out there for adults, there's been recommendations specific to sports, but we know that children do not necessarily act like little adults at all times and we know that the developing brain is unique."

The first comprehensive set of pediatric concussion guidelines were written to informhealth-care providers, parents, teachers andcoaches, Zemek said.

He said the thrust of the guidelines cover:

• How to recognize a concussion.
• How to determine if a family doctor, emergency doctor or pediatric specialist is needed.
• Ultimately, how to treat a concussion with rest.

The project team spentmore than two years reviewing some 4,000 academic papers in a range ofpediatric health disciplines, includingemergency medicine, family practitioners, neurologists andrehabilitation professionals, he said.

Click here to access the guidelines for pediatric concussionsonline.