herenciageneticayenfermedad: News from CDC’s Traumatic Brain Injury Team

martes, 23 de junio de 2020

News from CDC’s Traumatic Brain Injury Team

News from CDC’s Traumatic Brain Injury Team

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of Americans each year. CDC recently released several publications to help advance TBI prevention and care.

Gaps in diagnosis and management of young children with concussion

A new report by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and CDC, Characteristics Concussion in Elementary School-Aged Children: Implications for Clinical Management

, found that:

One-half to two-thirds of the children reported problems with sleep (54.1%) and vision and balance symptoms (66.1%).
Only 11.6% of children were referred for rehabilitation therapies.
Most young patients in the study did not receive a letter recommending standardized return to school accommodations.

What can be done: Early intervention during an initial healthcare visit and standardized school accommodations are needed to guard against lasting symptoms and poor health outcomes among children age 12 and under.

Opportunities to improve concussion assessment tools

In another new report by CHOP and CDC, researchers conducted the most comprehensive study of children diagnosed with concussion between 0 and 4 years of age. The study, Characteristics of Diagnosed Concussions in Children Aged 0 to 4 Years Presenting to a Large Pediatric Healthcare Network, found that:

Nearly 9 of 10 patients (86.6%) sought care in an emergency department (ED) or urgent care center.
Many patients experienced symptoms not included in standard assessment tools.
Clinicians encounter several challenges evaluating young children with concussion as assessment is based primarily on parent/caregiver symptom report.

What can be done: Assessment tools may be expanded to include signs and symptoms of concussion common among young children.

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations at higher risk for TBI

A new CDC study, Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Emergency Department Visits Among American Indian and Alaska Native Persons—National Patient Information Reporting System, 2005-2014, found that:

ED visits for TBI among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) are increased during the study period.
AI/AN adults (ages 18 to 34 years) and older adults (age 75 years and older) had the highest rates of TBI-related ED visits.
Falls were the leading cause of TBI-related ED visits among AI/AN children and adults.
AI/AN males had nearly twice the rate of TBI-related ED visits than AI/AN females.

What can be done: Expanded use of evidence-based prevention strategies are needed to reduce the risk for TBI among the AI/AN community.

Parents may underuse trustworthy sources of concussion information

Concussion management in youth is challenging, but parents can play a vital role in achieving positive health outcomes for their children. A new CDC report, Use of sport-related concussion information sources among parents of United States middle school children

, addresses how a parents’ knowledge about concussion can influence how they seek and gather information regarding care of their children. This report found that:

The most common sport-related concussion information source was doctors/healthcare providers (49.9%).
Nearly 1 in 3 of parents (36.0%) did not report using trustworthy sources of information, such as from doctors/healthcare providers or other healthcare-related resources, to learn about sports-related concussion.
Parent seek out information online, e.g., CDC, WebMD (37.8%).

What can be done: Continuing education for healthcare providers and educational opportunities for parents may help address the underuse of trustworthy concussion information sources.

Many private preparatory high school students reported experiencing a concussion

A new CDC report, Concussion Experiences in New England Private Preparatory High School Students, that addresses the burden of sports- and recreation-related activities at private schools in New England found that:

Nearly a third of private preparatory high school students who engaged in sports- and recreation-related activities reported experiencing a concussion within their lifetime.
Students identified to potentially be at increased risk included:
- Males students;
- Students who played contact sports; and
- Those who played multiple seasons of school sports.

What can be done: Targeted prevention for private secondary schools is necessary to reduce concussions. CDC’s HEADS UP campaign provides free information and resources for youth athletes, parents, coaches, schools, and healthcare providers.