Have a headache : About half of children with a head injury get a headache. Lose consciousness pass out : This isn't common. Vomit once or twice: This happens in some children after a head injury. How Are Head Injuries Diagnosed? Signs that the injury could be serious include: loss of consciousness for more than a few minutes continued vomiting confusion seizures a headache that gets worse What Should I Do When a Child Has a Head Injury?
Call your health care provider right away if your child had a head injury and: is an infant lost consciousness, even for a moment has any of these symptoms: won't stop crying complains of head and neck pain younger children who aren't talking yet may be more fussy vomits more than one time won't awaken easily becomes hard to comfort isn't walking or talking normally If your child is not an infant, has not lost consciousness, and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow: Put an ice pack or instant cold pack on the injured area for 20 minutes every 3—4 hours.
If you use ice, always wrap it in a washcloth or sock. Ice placed right on bare skin can injure it. Watch your child carefully for the next 24 hours. If the injury happens close to bedtime or naptime and your child falls asleep soon afterward, check in a few times while they sleep. Don't move the child in case there is a neck or spine injury. Call for help. If you have a phone with you, call If the child is vomiting or having a seizure , turn them onto their side while trying to keep the head and neck straight.
This will help prevent choking and protect the neck and spine. Can Head Injuries Be Prevented? Kids should: Always wear a bike helmet that fits well and is approved by the U. Consumer Product Safety Commission for biking. Use the proper sports equipment for inline skating, skateboarding , snowboarding , skiing , and contact sports. Use a child safety seat or seatbelt every time they're in the car. Some of the symptoms may begin minutes or hours after the initial injury, while others may take days or weeks to show up.
If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, take them to the doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately:. If your child has had a head injury, they should return to school and sport gradually.
For moderate to severe head injuries, your doctor will advise you. For advice on returning your child to their usual activities if they have had a mild head injury, see our fact sheet Head injury — return to school and sport. Cognitive fatigue is a common problem that can happen after a head injury. When a child has cognitive fatigue, it means their brain has to work harder to concentrate on tasks it used to be able to do easily, for example watching TV, playing computer games, or having a long conversation.
It can lead to behavioural problems, mood swings and educational difficulties. Children experiencing cognitive fatigue should have complete rest — for their brain and body. This means no watching TV or playing on mobile electronic devices. Allow your child to gradually return to reading and other activities that require periods of greater concentration or thinking.
Children often become fatigued tired quickly after a head injury, and this can exaggerate any of the symptoms that may occur after the head injury, such as confusion, emotional disturbances and thinking problems. If you are worried, take them to see a doctor.
We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. To donate, visit www. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts.
Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout. It's not possible to childproof your home completely. But you can take steps to keep toddlers and young children safe at home:. To reduce the risk of sustaining a head injury at work, always follow any necessary health and safety guidelines.
For example, you may have to wear a hard hat when working in potentially hazardous areas. Only use ladders in a workplace environment for short-term light work. Any work that requires spending a considerable amount of time at height or involves heavy lifting should be carried out on scaffolding or another suitable platform.
The Health and Safety Executive HSE provides more information about the correct use of ladders in the workplace , including a list of common tasks that involve working at height. Any work that involves going up on to a roof should also be considered high risk, and high standards of safety are therefore essential.
Wear any necessary safety equipment when playing sports, particularly contact sports. Don't play any contact sports for at least three weeks after a minor head injury without talking to your doctor first. Home Illnesses and conditions Injuries Head and neck injuries Minor head injury. Minor head injury See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1.
About minor head injuries 2. Symptoms of minor head injuries 3. Treating minor head injuries 4. Preventing minor head injuries. About minor head injuries Minor head injuries are common in people of all ages and rarely result in any permanent brain damage. How common are head injuries? Children are more likely to sustain a minor head injury because they're very active. Treating a minor head injury Most people who attend hospital with a minor head injury are allowed to return home shortly afterwards and will make a full recovery within a few days.
Preventing head injuries It can be difficult to predict or avoid a head injury, but there are some steps you can take to help reduce the risk of more serious injury.
These include: wearing a safety helmet when cycling reducing hazards in the home that may cause a fall childproofing your home using the correct safety equipment for work, sport and DIY Read more about how to prevent a minor head injury. Symptoms of minor head injuries Minor head injuries often cause a bump or bruise. Close observation If your child or someone you know has sustained a head injury, observe them closely for 24 hours to monitor whether their symptoms change or get worse.
You should also go to hospital if someone has injured their head and: the injury was caused by a forceful blow to the head at speed, such as being hit by a car or falling one metre or more the person had brain surgery before the person has had problems with uncontrollable bleeding or a blood clotting disorder, or is taking medication that may cause bleeding problems, such as warfarin the person is intoxicated by drugs or alcohol it's possible the injury wasn't accidental — for example, you deliberately hurt yourself or someone else hurt you on purpose.
Treating minor head injuries You can usually recover from a minor head injury at home — but keep an eye out for any new symptoms that might develop. Seek immediate medical advice if symptoms such as mild dizziness and a headache get worse.
Preventing minor head injuries Many head injuries are the result of accidents that are difficult to predict or avoid.
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