Which kids are hit hardest by concussion?

Adolescent girls have the slowest recovery from concussion compared with other children, a Canadian study shows.

The research followed more than 2700 children and adolescents (61% male) over a 12-week period after presenting with concussion at nine paediatric EDs.

The main outcome was the change in symptom score on the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI), which was assessed at presentation, and 1,2 4, 8 and 12 weeks thereafter.

“In our study, girls across age groups were more symptomatic than boys,” the authors reported in JAMA Pediatrics.

And adolescent girls (13-18 years) had the most marked delay in recovery compared with their male peers, they found.

“Adolescent girls had a protracted symptom change trajectory; symptom improvement occurred predominantly in the first four weeks and plateaued between weeks four and eight, with less than half of them reaching full recovery by 12 weeks