Study: Most Kids’ Concussions Go Unreported 

The Center for Injury Research and Prevention found that most concussions in children are not reported. They believe this is because children are not seen in hospital emergency rooms. 

"Four in five of this diverse group of children were diagnosed at a primary care practice -- not the emergency department," said study author Kristy Arbogast.

Arbogast examined almost 8,100 children under the age of 18. All children were examined in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey between 2010 and 2014. They found that nearly 82% of the children went to their primary care physician before heading to the ER. Only 12% went to the ER first for their concussion-related injuries. 

The study also found that more than three-quarters of the children ages 5 to 17 went to their primary care physician first. For kids ages 4 and under, only 52% went to the ER first. 

Arbogast believes that "efforts to measure the incidence of concussion cannot solely be based on emergency department visits, and primary care clinicians must be trained in concussion diagnosis and management."

The study’s authors also said that it is not a bad idea to bring your kid to their doctor instead of the ER first. They are more likely to be seen and taken care of faster in their doctor’s office than in an emergency room, where they could possibly wait for hours before being seen.  They do believe that family doctors should be trained better to deal with concussions.

"This study demonstrates the importance of incorporating the primary physician in the treatment team as our youth work through concussion," said Dr. Rupi Johal, a primary care sports medicine physician at Winthrop-University Hospital, in Mineola, New York.

Dr. Mitchell Price directs pediatric trauma at Staten Island University Hospital, in New York City states, "I wholeheartedly agree that education in regards to concussion diagnosis is important in our pediatric provider community, considering the findings of this study."

For more information on concussions, go to http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/