Athletes often joke about "getting your bell rung" after taking
a hit on the playing field, but adolescent concussions can cause
serious long-term injury or death, and should always be taken
seriously. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is
publishing a new clinical report, "Sport-Related Concussion in
Children and Adolescents," in the September 2010 print issue of
Pediatrics (published online Aug. 30). Young athletes are more
susceptible to the effects of a concussion because their brains
are still developing, and appropriate management is essential
for reducing the risk of long-term complications. Although
preventing all concussions is unlikely, there are several ways
to reduce the risk, including protective gear (such as helmets
and mouth guards), adhering to the rules of the sport,
identifying athletes at risk, and educating parents, teachers,
athletes, school administrators and trainers about the dangers
of concussions. Football has the highest incidence of
concussion, but girls have higher concussi