%0 Journal Article %T Emergency department visits for sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries among children - United States, 2010-2016 %J MMWR: Morbidity and mortality weekly report %D 2019 %A Sarmiento, Kelly %A Thomas, Karen E. %A Daugherty, Jill %A Waltzman, Dana %A Haarbauer-Krupa, Juliet K. %A Peterson, Alexis B. %A Haileyesus, Tadesse %A Breiding, Matthew J. %V 68 %N 10 %P 237-242 %X Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions, are at the forefront of public concern about athletic injuries sustained by children. Caused by an impact to the head or body, a TBI can lead to emotional, physiologic, and cognitive sequelae in children (1). Physiologic factors (such as a child's developing nervous system and thinner cranial bones) might place children at increased risk for TBI (2,3). A previous study demonstrated that 70% of emergency department (ED) visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs (SRR-TBIs) were among children (4). Because surveillance data can help develop prevention efforts, CDC analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP)* by examining SRR-TBI ED visits during 2010-2016. An average of 283,000 children aged <18 years sought care in EDs each year for SRR-TBIs, with overall rates leveling off in recent years. The highest rates were among males and children aged 10-14 and 15-17 years. TBIs sustained in contact sports accounted for approximately 45% of all SRR-TBI ED visits. Activities associated with the highest number of ED visits were football, bicycling, basketball, playground activities, and soccer. Limiting player-to-player contact and rule changes that reduce risk for collisions are critical to preventing TBI in contact and limited-contact sports. If a TBI does occur, effective diagnosis and management can promote positive health outcomes among children.

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%G en %I U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention %@ 0149-2195 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6810a2