The Center for Disease Control has issued new guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of concussions in children.
The guidelines include 19 sets of recommendations on the diagnosis, prognosis, and management/treatment of pediatric mTBI.
This marks the first set of scientific-based guidelines that the U.S. has put together.
"Everything from identification, diagnosis, prognosis, management, treatment... they've done a nice job in including a lot of this information," University of Miami Health System KiDZ Neuroscience Center and Concussion Program Director Dr. Gillian Hotz told WIOD.
"Today we know a lot more about the seriousness of concussions and why we should really look at these things acutely. Why let a kid suffer for a week?
"We know now that we should have these kids seen immediately..."
Recommendations within the report address imaging, symptom scales, cognitive testing, and standardized assessment for the diagnosis of concussions; history and risk factor assessment, monitoring, and counseling for prognosis; and patient/family education, rest, support, return to school, and symptom management for treatment.
The CDC says coaches, parents, athletes, and administrators alike will be able to use the guidelines to help keep everyone -- whether on the court/field or off -- safe and healthy.