New guidelines for detection, treatment in kids

CHICAGO — New children’s concussion guidelines from the U.S. government recommend against routine X-rays and blood tests for diagnosis and reassure parents that most kids’ symptoms clear up within one to three months.

The guidelines released Tuesday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are the first broad evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing and treating children’s concussions, the researchers say. They evaluated 25 years of scientific research on managing concussions in children and chose procedures with the strongest evidence of benefit.

The CDC’s guidelines are for concussions from all causes, including falls, sports and car accidents.

By some estimates, at least 1 million U.S. children get concussions each year although the true frequency is unknown because there is no national effort to track them and many go untreated.

The guidelines’ highlights include: X-rays and CT scans aren’t effective at detecting concussions. Blood tests for detecting concussion haven’t been proved to work and shouldn’t be done outside of research.

Most children’s symptoms clear up within one to three months, but recovery varies and can be delayed in kids who’ve had previous concussions.

Teens, kids with learning difficulties and those with mental illness all tend to recover more slowly than young children.

Rest, the main treatment, is recommended for the first three days, but inactivity beyond that may worsen symptoms.