Head Injuries

Head injuries fall into two categories:

1. external (usually scalp) injuries
2. internal head injuries, which may involve the skull, the blood vessels within the skull, or the brain

Fortunately, most childhood falls or blows to the head result in injury to the scalp only, which is usually more frightening than threatening. An internal head injury could have more serious implications because the skull serves as the protective helmet for the delicate

What to look for and what to do:

• Call the doctor if your child is an infant; has lost consciousness, even momentarily; or if a child of any age has any of these symptoms:
  • won't stop crying
  • complains of head and neck pain
  • becomes difficult to console
  • isn't walking normally
• If your child is not an infant, has not lost consciousness, and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow:
  • Apply an ice pack or instant cold pack to the injured area for 20 minutes. If you use ice, always wrap it in a washcloth or sock; ice applied directly to bare skin can cause fracture
  • bleeding or clear fluid from the nose, ear, or mouth
  • disturbance of speech or vision
  • pupils of unequal size
  • weakness or paralysis
  • dizziness
  • neck pain or stiffness
  • vomiting more than two to three times
  • loss of bladder or bowel control

  If your child is unconscious:

  • Do not try to move your child in case there is a neck or spine injury.
  • Call for help.
  • If you've been trained in
  • Do your best to keep your child calm and still.
  • If there's bleeding, apply a sterile bandage.
  • Do not attempt to cleanse the wound, which may aggravate bleeding and/or cause serious complications if the skull is fractured.
  • Do not apply direct pressure to the wound if you suspect the skull is fractured.
  • Do not remove any object that's stuck in the wound.

  Concussions

  sports, so make sure they wear appropriate protective gear and don't continue to play if they've had a head injury.

  If your child sustains an injury to the head, watch for these signs of a possible concussion:

  • "seeing stars" and feeling dazed, dizzy, or lightheaded
  • memory loss, such as trouble remembering what happened right before and after the injury
  • nausea or vomiting
  • headaches
  • blurred vision and sensitivity to light
  • slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense
  • difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
  • difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being unable to catch a ball or other easy tasks)
  • feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
  • feeling overly tired

  If you suspect a concussion, call your doctor for further instructions.

  Preventing Head Injuries

  It's impossible to prevent kids from ever being injured, but there are ways to help prevent head blows.

  Make sure that:

  • your home is biking, in-line skating, skateboarding, snowboarding or skiing, and playing contact seat belt or child safety seat
  • your child takes it easy after a head injury, especially after a concussion, and doesn't go back to rough play or playing sports until the injury has healed. (If your child reinjures the brain while it's still healing, it will take even more time to completely heal. Each time a person has a concussion, it does additional damage.)

  Reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD