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Ages & Stages - June 2011

Boys, Girls Report Different Concussion Symptoms//More Than Just a Cough? Asthma Symptoms Common, Serious in Kids

Boys, Girls Report Different Concussion Symptoms

Female athletes who sustain a concussion report different symptoms than their male counterparts, according to research performed at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education.

Sue Saliba, an assistant professor of kinesiology in the Curry School, and Leah Frommer, now an assistant athletic trainer at the University of California at Santa Barbara, conducted the study while Frommer was a graduate student at UVA.

The research revealed that, in addition to headache, high-school girl athletes were more likely to complain of neurological symptoms such as sensitivity to light or sleeplessness. Their male peers, conversely, were more likely to report neuro-cognitive issues, such as loss of memory or balance control.

“We found a difference in the symptom type, and that’s never been documented before,” Saliba says. However, there was no difference in the students’ recovery time. The research was published recently in the Journal for Athletic Trainers.

There are more than 1.6 million sports-related concussions reported each year in the United States. More than 5 percent of participants in high school contact sports are affected by concussions.

The study used Web-based surveillance software designed for high- school sports — called Reporting Information Online (RIO) — that is similar to injury-reporting software used by national sports teams, Saliba explains. (Only certified athletic trainers can report injuries using RIO, Saliba says, adding that not all high schools have certified trainers, thus limiting the sample pool.)

The athletic trainers recorded the symptoms that were reported by the athletes, tracked how long the symptoms lasted, whether the student-athlete required any additional medical care and when the player was returned to practice or competition.

Researchers evaluated 812 concussions from 100 different high schools. Of those, 610 occurred in males and 202 occurred in females. Though more boys suffered concussions overall because fewer girls participate in contact sports, Saliba notes, females had a higher rate of concussion.

Saliba says the trends Frommer identified could encourage doctors to take more care in diagnosing concussions. In some cases, neurologically based symptoms, such as having difficulty concentrating, can be attributed to attention deficit disorder when they actually may be indicative of a brain injury.

More Than Just a Cough?
Asthma Symptoms Common, Serious in Kids

Asthma is the leading cause of hospital visits and missed school days in children, according to the National Institute of Health. A chronic condition, pediatric asthma requires continual care to prevent serious, life-threatening asthma attacks. According to the Respiratory Health Association, more than 9.5 million U.S. children under age 18 are living with asthma.

“Asthma is generally characterized by excessive sensitivity of the lungs to various stimuli,” says Michael Facktor, M.D., a pediatric allergy specialist at Geisinger Medical Center, which has multiple locations in Pennsylvania. “Because this condition is so prevalent in children, we encourage parents to look closely for warning signs of asthma. Your child may have more than just a persistent cough.”
According to Facktor, common symptoms include difficulty breathing or rapid breaths, shortness of breath while resting or a persistent nighttime cough.

Triggers that can cause asthma include allergens such as mold, pollen and dander; irritants such as air pollution or cigarette smoke; cold air or changes in the weather; and viral infections such as the common cold.

“Some asthma patients can breathe normally most of the time, but some children with asthma may experience mild symptoms on a continual basis, in the form of wheezing, chest tightness or coughing — often in the morning, at night or after physical exertion,” says Facktor. “When exposure to triggers causes symptoms to worsen, patients experience an asthma attack that comes on quickly with severe symptoms.”

If your child has asthma, know the warning signs of an acute asthma attack. These include difficulty breathing, sweating and rapid pulse.

“Fortunately, treatment is available for the long-term management of asthma,” says Facktor. “Medications are often effective in reducing underlying inflammation in the airways to relieve or prevent airway narrowing. Quick-relief medications are also used to control symptoms during an attack. During a severe asthma attack, children should seek immediate medical attention.”
“Asthma can have a big impact on your child’s life,” says Facktor. “Fortunately, with the proper education, treatment and lifestyle, asthma doesn’t have to control your child’s life.”