What is the risk of developing SIS after a secondary concussion?
According to a 2009 medical article published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, the frequency in which SIS cases occur has been in question for a number of years due to a lack of international literature on the subject. What medical professionals do agree on is the fact that all concussions, regardless of their severity, should be taken seriously as they can have serious health consequences later on in life.
Repetitive concussions and the development of CTE
The public is becoming more aware of the impact multiple concussions can have on an individual thanks to research regarding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is another serious health condition that can develop after suffering repetitive concussions. Unlike SIS, where symptoms of the condition may present shortly after suffering a second concussion, CTE takes time to develop and may not be discovered until after a patient dies.