Parents: More Bonks Are Worse Than One

Any concussion is a bad concussion, especially in children.

Now comes a new study that's not a big surprise to those of us who take care of noggins -- big and small.

A study in the Journal Pediatrics says the more concussions a kid has, the longer it takes to recover from a fresh one.

Meaning, those who have had a single head injury within a twelve month period, or those who have had several over the course of their young lives -- take longer to shake off the effects of a rattled brain.

On average, a single concussion takes about 12 days to resolve.

But have previous ones, the average recovery takes 28 days.

And who knows about the long-term effects on brain cells from a single or repeated concussions? They appear to be very bad in adults (ie NFL players)... but even worse in children. A growing brain does not when it is shaken like jello in a glass bowl.

And that's what happens with a concussion the brain is rocked violently back and force against the inside of the skull, stretching and tearing nerve connections. (Do they grow back completely? We don't know)

Symptoms of a concussion include headaches, memory loss, problems concentrating, fatigue, sleeplessness, nausea, anxiety, etc etc. They suck. And they are scary.

Right now, the only known proven treatment for a concussion is time and rest. And I do mean rest.

That means a child who has a head injury needs to ratchet it down, stay away from sports, and be completely symptom free before a return to play or activity.

Never play through or try to "tough out" a concussion -- no matter how mild. Pushy parents and aggressive coaches -- that advice is especially for you.