Nearly 2 million concussions in kids' sports, play yearly?
Posted: Mon 6:41 AM, Jun 20, 2016
CHICAGO (AP) - A new study says nearly 2 million concussions from sports or play activities occur in U.S. children and teens each year and many receive no treatment.
The estimate is based on 2013 data from hospitals, doctors' offices, high schools and information from previous concussion studies.
The study led by pediatrician Dr. Mersine Bryan of Seattle Children's Hospital, involved kids age 18 and younger and is in Monday's journal Pediatrics.
But researchers say the numbers are imprecise, highlighting the need for a concussion surveillance system as recommended by the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit group that advises the government on public health issues.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to create a system to track concussion rates and trends in children and adults.
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