help with concussions/headgear?

[westcoastmummy]

My 17mo DS has had two concussions at daycare. My other son went there too -- it's a great, caring place. My toddler has tripped over a toy and over the corner of a mat. He's had similar falls at home under close supervision, so I can't blame the daycare. He also has other serious health issues (anaphylaxis and possible EE, poor weight gain, asthma). For a while he fell a lot, right smack down on the same spot on his head, which is how he got his first concussion, and that seemed to have resolved itself recently (with the help of a physio he started to learn to put his hands out in front of him when he fell).

But this latest incident has really thrown me. He was unresponsive when the paramedics arrived and was rushed to the ER. He seems ok now, and recovered quickly. I'm waiting for various appointments to come through to try to explain all this and to double check how he's doing-- appointments with the pediatrician, allergy doctor, physio. But my worries are spinning out of control! I have no idea if I'm facing a problem with his eyesight, hearing, or neurology..... Has anyone been through this before? I'd also appreciate advice on buying protective headgear, which I think I have to do to make daycare safe for him.

[Village Mama]

My youngest had 4 concussions by the time he was three all with simple unavoidable falls like you describe. I was freaked out ALL of the time because of it. We were never advised to buy headgear and the emergency room docs had suggested an EEG at the last incidence if we were concerned. I was worried about all of the things that you mentioned and was wondering if it was due to his head shape or what. I only wrote this because I was reminded of our experience... this may not be helpful, but you never know! My little guy is on the Autism spectrum and has a lot of dietary issues, asthma etc as well. We discovered a little over a year ago that he was sensitive to dairy and it was contributing to a lot of behavioral issues. When we cut out the dairy ( he has been gluten free for a long time) the behaviors changed hugely... but an unexpected benefit was that he hasn't gotten anymore of those " easy " concussions. He has had quite a few headbangs in the same spot that would have sent us to emerg before. ( a small head bonk at the back of the head would cause unresponsiveness, vomiting, drooling, eyes rolling back awfulness. Gah) I was talking to a friend who is a neurologist and we were considering the possibility that the food issues were causing inflammation in the brain ( hense the neurological oddness) and when we got rid of the offending food and reduced the inflammation that the head injury issue was resolved( as well as the asthma getting better, gaining weight to put him back on the charts.) Like I say, this may not help at all, but it isn't an area that anyone considered being a possible contributer... may have been a coincidence. Just a personal niggling theory.