Symptoms of Concussion may be Worse for Girls: Study

A recent study indicates that female patients are more likely than males to experience severe symptoms from concussion. 

"There have been several studies suggesting there are differences between boys and girls as far as [concussion] symptom reporting and the duration of symptoms," said Dr. Shayne Fehr, a pediatric sports medicine specialist at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, via Medical Xpress.

For the study, researchers examined 549 patients who received medical care following a pediatric concussion and were treated from 2010 to 2012. A total of 235 patients were girls, all between the ages of 10 and 18.  

Compared to boys, the girls reported more severe symptoms that took an additional 22 days to recover. However, some girls took an average of 56 days to recover if more severe symptoms were involved. When pooled together, recovery time was around 44 days for boys and girls.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that this brain injury that can hinder cognitive function is often seen in sports-related accidents. The study also reported the top five related symptoms following this injury to be sensitivity to light or sound, trouble concentrating, headache and dizziness.

Dr. John Kuluz, director of traumatic brain injury and neurorehabilitation at Miami Children's Hospital, notes that all involved in the study went to a concussion clinic, resulting in a sample that may have had more serious injuries. 

However, he concluded the following, via CBS News: "I wouldn't treat girls any differently than boys."

What do you think?

More information regarding the findings will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine in New Orleans, La.