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Signs and Symptoms of Concussion

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Concussion Management for Primary Care

Abstract

It is the responsibility of every healthcare provider who could potentially care for someone who sustains a concussion to recognize the most common signs and symptoms. Some are present immediately after the injury, but many may evolve with time. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine’s most recent position on concussions breaks down the symptoms into six domains: headache-migraine, cognitive, anxiety/mood, ocular, fatigue, and vestibular. Many of these symptoms are generalizable, cross domains, and evolve throughout the process of the condition. Moreover, many of these symptoms can be present prior to the onset of the concussion. This can confound the clinical picture. Therefore, it is essential for clinicians to clarify symptoms with their patients, compare symptoms to the patient’s baseline, and converse with athletic trainers, friends, or family members. Thorough follow-up with these patients is crucial to assess progression during recovery. The diagnosis of concussion can be elusive, therefore it is imperative for primary care providers to be aware of the constellation of signs and symptoms that can present with concussions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Medicine and Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    George G. A. Pujalte

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Timothy M. Dekker, Andre A. Abadin & Trisha E. Jethwa

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  1. George G. A. Pujalte
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  2. Timothy M. Dekker
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  3. Andre A. Abadin
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  4. Trisha E. Jethwa
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Correspondence to Andre A. Abadin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Family and Sports Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Deepak S. Patel

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Pujalte, G.G.A., Dekker, T.M., Abadin, A.A., Jethwa, T.E. (2020). Signs and Symptoms of Concussion. In: Patel, D. (eds) Concussion Management for Primary Care . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39582-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39582-7_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-39581-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-39582-7

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