ER visits rise for school-age athletes

CHICAGO - Emergency room visits for school-age athletes with concussions have risen substantially in recent years, suggesting that the intensity of children's sports has increased along with awareness of head injuries.

The findings in a study of national data do not necessarily mean that concussions are on the rise. Many children, however, are not taken for medical treatment; the numbers probably reflect a much bigger problem, doctors say.

"It definitely is a disturbing trend," said Lisa Bakhos, lead author of the study and an ER physician in Neptune, N.J.

The study examined concussions in organized youth sports involving ages 8 to 19. ER visits for 14-to-19-year-olds more than tripled, from about 7,000 in 1997 to nearly 22,000 in 2007. Among ages 8 to 13, visits doubled, from 3,800 to almost 8,000.

The study appears in the journal Pediatrics, published online Monday.