Use of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen for Treatment of Acute Headache Post Concussion in Children
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Concussions and headache are a significant problem for children and athletes. While headache
generally resolves within 7-10 days; a significant proportion of children, 72-93% experience
prolonged headache as a symptom of Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS). The prevailing clinical
view is that mild head injuries resolve with little chance of complications. However, the
reality is quite different. Concussion in children presents with a range of severity and
results in both short and long-term physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural sequelae
known as PCS with varying times to resolution. To date there are no specific treatments for
headache pain related to concussion. Physical and cognitive rest is the mainstay of initial
concussion management.
The number of children presenting to ED's with a history of concussion and headache is
increasing. Presently there are no evidence based guidelines available to guide the medical
team to effectively and consistently manage their headache. Our present standard of care is
based on the CANCHILD concussion guidelines outlining the child's return to school and
activity. Yet, our present standard of treatment is compromised and somewhat
counterproductive if we are not treating the child's headache pain.
Our pilot study ' An Open Label Randomized Control Pilot Study Examining Treatment of
Headache In The Post-Concussive Youth' showed that routine administration of oral analgesia
improves the child's headache symptoms and helps with school re-entry one week post injury,
compared to a standard care group defined as non routine administration of pain medications.