How do you distinguish concussion from post-concussive syndrome?

• A. Concussion is a chronic brain injury with persistent symptoms; post-concussive syndrome is acute
• B. Concussion is an acute mild traumatic brain injury with transient symptoms; post-concussive syndrome refers to persistent symptoms after the initial injury
• C. Post-concussive syndrome is a temporary condition that resolves in hours
• D. They are the same condition

Answer: (B)

Concussion is an acute, mild traumatic brain injury where symptoms are typically temporary and resolve over days to weeks. Post-concussive syndrome describes a pattern of symptoms that lasts beyond the expected recovery period, often weeks to months after the initial injury. This distinction—acute, transient symptoms for concussion versus persistent symptoms for PCS—is why the statement describing concussion as an acute, transient injury and PCS as persistent after the injury is the best fit. The other descriptions mix up timing (chronic vs. acute, hours vs. weeks) or claim they’re the same, which doesn’t align with how these conditions progress.