About TBIs
Traumatic Brain Injuries are one of the leading concerns of today's world and is often referred to as the "silent epidemic". According to a study conducted, "sixty-nine million individuals worldwide are estimated to sustain a TBI each year. The proportion of TBIs resulting from road traffic collisions was greatest in Africa and Southeast Asia (both 56%) and lowest in North America (25%). The incidence of Road Traffic Injuries was similar in Southeast Asia (1.5% of the population per year) and Europe (1.2%). The overall incidence of TBI per 100,000 people was greatest in North America (1299 cases) and Europe (1012 cases) and least in Africa (801 cases) and the Eastern Mediterranean (897 cases)" [https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/aop/article-10.3171-2017.10.JNS17352.xml]. The following video is a short presentation on some of the causes of TBIs, number of deaths taking place due to TBIs and the prevention of TBI in children [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiLBPsTRLnQ] :
Map indicating worldwide incidence and volume of TBI due to Road Traffic Collisions
Detection of TBIs
There are various ways for diagnosing TBIs. Some of them are:
The Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) - This scale is based on a person's ability to speak, open eyes and to move. Based on the analysis, the person receives a GCS score and the score decides the severity of the TBI.
Imaging Test - This includes CT scans and MRIs.
Speech and language test - This test focuses on evaluation of the strength and coordination of the muscles that control speech, understanding and use of grammar and vocabulary, as well as reading and writing
Cognition and Neuropsychological Tests - Cognition is the process of thinking, reasoning and problem solving whereas neuropsychological tests are used to get an idea of a person's cognitive abilities when given any kind of a specialized task
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Conclusion
Traumatic brain injuries can often occur as a result of a severe sports injury, car accident, falls, etc. The symptoms include confusion, blurry vision, and concentration difficulty. Infants who cannot talk may often cry persistently or be irritable. A high number of cases in which TBI is detected involve rest, medication, and surgery as their treatment.
Therefore, Traumatic Brain Injuries are one of the greatest burdens of overall diseases and therefore it is very important to spread awareness about them as they lead to millions of deaths every year.