Time-Out Needed For Suspected Concussions

Concussions often are sports-related, but they are not always the result of a blow to the head and do not frequently knock a person unconscious.

A concussion - a type of brain injury that causes brief, transient symptoms - also can occur if a child receives a strong jolt to the chest and there is abrupt movement of the head. Common signs are confusion and an inability to concentrate, follow instructions or process information. Your child may have a severe headache or nausea and behave differently.

"If your child has a concussion, he or she needs to be evaluated by a physician that day to determine if there are any problems around the brain that require emergency tre-atment," says Dr. Joe Chorley, a sports medicine specialist at Texas Children's Hospital.

"Get your child to the emergency center immediately if there is persistent vomiting, amnesia, weakness, numbness, neck pain or disorientation," he says.

Athletes experiencing neurological symptoms should never return to a game. A second concussion can cause the brain to swell, resulting in death or permanent brain damage.

- From Texas Children's Hospital

Trying to Force Foods on Picky Eaters Not Worth the Effort

"Parents need to realize that having young children who are picky eaters is a common problem," says Dr. Mark Gilger, a gastroenterologist and nutrition specialist at Texas Children's Hospital. "So common, in fact, that it may be considered the norm. However, we tend to use the term "picky eater" in a negative sense, as if there is something wrong with a child because she or he doesn't eat like the parents or the rest of the family."

As children develop and begin to feed themselves, parents are encouraged to release some of their previous control over the child's eating.

"I suggest parents become considerably less passionate about meals," he says. "They should avoid analyzing their kid's eating habits and insisting on clean plates. Parents also should never use food as a tool to reward or punish behavior."

Dr. Gilger concedes that children, if left to themselves, will not innately seek out a well-balanced diet.

"The caregiver's responsibility is to provide the toddler with an appropriate array of foods from the different food groups," he says. "You are responsible for what your child is given to eat; your child is responsible for what and how much he or she eats."

Dr. Gilger notes that toddlers react negatively to new foods but are usually accepting with time. Parents can help by being flexible and making minor modifications in food preparation.

"Foods can be cut into bite-sized pieces, some foods can be made soft and moist; sandwiches can be served quartered with the crust removed," he says.

Generally, children ages 2 to 4 need about 1,000 to 1,300 calories daily. Parents who are concerned about their child's caloric intake should contact their child's doctor.

- From Texas Children's Hospital

Painkillers, Water Retention Put Marathon Runners At Risk

The combination of certain painkillers and too much water could put some runners at risk of developing a deadly blood condition.

In a study of marathon runners, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found a direct relationship between regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, high water intake and the incidence of hyponatremia, a potentially fatal, low blood sodium disorder. The results are in the May 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

"These findings mainly affect marathon runners who have achy joints or pain and routinely take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories," says Dr. Juan Carlos Ayus, Baylor clinical professor of medicine and the study's principal investigator. "These medications can impair the kidneys' ability to excrete water."

If not immediately diagnosed and treated, hyponatremia can lead to fluid in the lungs or swelling in the brain.

During heavy exercise, blood flow is diverted from the gastrointestinal tract to the skeletal muscle. Any water that is ingested remains in the gut. When exercise ceases, blood flow may be partially redistributed to the gastrointestinal tract. This causes water to be absorbed abruptly, which can lead to hyponatremia.

Researchers also believe that a runner's sex may be a contributing factor. A previous study showed women are more likely to develop the deadly condition and show more symptoms. Although there is a higher percentage of male marathon runners, five of the seven patients in the current study were female. n

- From Baylor College of Medicine

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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