Head Injuries In Children Can Lead to Long-Term Effects

A study published in November 2011 in Pediatrics magazine indicates a strong link between head trauma in children and long-term negative health effects. It is also noted in the article that moderate to severe head injuries can lead to "substantial long-term reduction" of a child's quality of life.
In the study, several hundred children under the age of 18, who had suffered head injuries were included as test subjects. The child's pre-injury conditions were reviewed and contrasted with the after effects of their injuries. This information was compared to 200 other children who were treated at the same hospital for non-serious, non-head injuries. The study showed that kids who suffered a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury experienced lasting effects from the injury to include difficulty with everyday tasks like teeth brushing, social interactions, memory, depression, and attentiveness. In the most severe cases, the children had a lower quality of life than children undergoing treatment for cancer. It was also noted in the study that those children with severe deficits were not likely to make any significant improvement after two years following the head injury.
The major point of the article and study was to bring awareness to childhood head injuries and especially to those injuries that can be avoided by wearing a helmet. Many injuries in outdoor recreation type activities can be avoided with helmets and gates can prevent young children from falling down stairs. Most of all, however, is just being an attentive parent. Keeping a close on on your children and their activities is the best way to protect them, and if they become injured, know the signs and symptoms of a serious head injury.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC traumatic brain injury attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at the The Derrick Law Firm has been handling traumatic brain injury cases in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.