Concussions are classified into several types.

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 28, 2025
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Concussions are usually categorized into several levels based on the severity of their clinical symptoms. Generally, the higher the level, the more pronounced the symptoms in patients. They can generally be divided into five levels. Patients with a level one concussion may experience mild consciousness disturbances, but these are short-lived and generally do not leave noticeable residual effects. Patients with a level two concussion might experience slight headaches and dizziness, accompanied by vertigo. Patients with a level three concussion show evident retrograde amnesia. Patients with a level four concussion experience mild disturbances in consciousness, manifesting as states of drowsiness, stupor, or coma. Patients with a level five concussion present with clear clinical symptoms, characterized by recurrent headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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How long does vomiting last with a mild concussion?

Patients with mild concussion typically exhibit brief disturbances in consciousness lasting from several seconds to several minutes after the injury, usually not exceeding half an hour, along with retrograde amnesia. Some patients may also experience varying degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and other clinical symptoms. The vast majority of mild concussion patients can recover within five to seven days with rest and conditioning, meaning that mild concussion symptoms, including vomiting, can resolve within 5-7 days.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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post-concussion syndrome

For patients with concussions, especially those with mild concussions, they generally do not retain obvious sequelae. Most patients gradually alleviate or even eliminate the original symptoms after resting. However, some patients with more severe concussions still experience repeated headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and other discomfort during the recovery period. At this time, it is appropriate to treat patients by using some brain-enhancing and nerve-nourishing medications. Meanwhile, patients should be encouraged to actively participate in social activities and do some simple physical exercises, which can help stabilize and recover from the condition. Additionally, it is also suggested that concussion patients receive appropriate psychological counseling. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Li Pei
Neurosurgery
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Is a concussion serious?

Concussion is the mildest form of traumatic brain injury. It occurs as a transient inhibition of brain function following head trauma, characterized by a brief period of confusion post-injury, usually not exceeding half an hour. Patients may also experience retrograde amnesia, unable to recall the incident of injury. Neurological examinations and head CT scans typically show no significant abnormalities, and results from lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid tests are normal. Most patients generally recover slowly after resting in bed for 1-2 weeks post-injury, without the need for special treatment. If symptoms such as headache or dizziness are prominent, some analgesics and sedatives or neurotrophic medications can be used for treatment, leading to gradual recovery. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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How to diagnose a concussion

Typically, patients with concussions do not show organic changes on head CT scans; their primary clinical symptoms include temporary disturbances in consciousness after the injury and short-term memory loss. Some patients also experience varying degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blindness, impaired memory, or lack of concentration, among other clinical symptoms. Generally, the essential tests include: first, a head CT scan; second, an electroencephalogram (EEG); third, cerebrospinal fluid examination.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Mild concussion symptoms

For patients with mild concussion, they often experience temporary loss of consciousness after suffering from violent blows, car accidents, falls from heights, and other accidental injuries, generally lasting no longer than 30 minutes. When patients regain consciousness, they may feel headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and have difficulty accurately recalling the incident, often referred to as retrograde amnesia. For such patients, cranial CT or MRI scans often show no significant positive signs, and it is suggested that no special treatment is necessary. Instead, patients should focus on rest, avoid overworking and exhaustion, and reduce excessive mental stimulation. The symptoms of most patients will gradually alleviate or even disappear within about two weeks.