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Head Injury In Children
A head injury
is most often caused by a blow to the head. This may occur from a fall, bicycle injury, sports injury, or a motor vehicle accident. Forceful shaking may also cause a head injury.
Signs and symptoms:
Your child may have an open wound, swelling, or bruising on his or her head. Right after the injury, your child may be confused. Symptoms may last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks:
- Mild to moderate headache
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Nausea or vomiting
- Change in mood, such as feeling restless or irritable
- Trouble thinking, remembering, or concentrating
- Ringing in the ears
- Short-term loss of newly learned skills, such as toilet training
- Drowsiness or decreased amount of energy
- Change in how your child sleeps
Call 911 for any of the following:
- You cannot wake your child.
- Your child has a seizure.
- Your child stops responding to you or faints.
- Your child has blurry or double vision.
- Your child's speech becomes slurred or confused.
- Your child has weakness, loss of feeling, or problems walking.
- Your child's pupils are larger than usual or one pupil is a different size than the other.
- Your child has blood or clear fluid coming out of his or her ears or nose.
Seek care immediately if:
- Your child's headache or dizziness gets worse or becomes severe.
- Your child has repeated or forceful vomiting.
- Your child is confused.
- Your child has a bulging soft spot on his head.
- Your child is harder to wake than usual.
- Your child will not stop crying or will not eat.
Contact your child's healthcare provider if:
- Your child's symptoms last longer than 6 weeks after the injury.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
- Acetaminophen decreases pain and fever. It is available without a doctor's order. Ask how much to take and how often to take it. Follow directions. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if not taken correctly.
- Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age. Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin, salicylates, or oil of wintergreen.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell him or her if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Care for your child:
- Have your child rest or do quiet activities for 24 hours or as directed. Limit your child's time watching TV, playing video games, using the computer, or doing schoolwork. Do not let your child play sports or do activities that may result in a blow to the head. Your child should not return to sports until the provider says it is okay. Your child will need to return to sports slowly.
- Apply ice on your child's head for 15 to 20 minutes every hour as directed. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel before you apply it to your child's skin. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain.
- Watch your child closely for 48 hours or as directed. Sometimes symptoms of a severe head injury do not show up for a few days. Wake your child every 3 hours during the night or as directed. Ask your child his or her name or favorite food. These questions will help you monitor your child's brain function.
- Tell your child's teachers, coaches, or daycare providers about the injury and symptoms to watch for. Ask your child's teachers to let him or her have extra time to finish schoolwork or exams.
Prevent another head injury:
- Have your child wear a helmet that fits properly. Helmets help decrease your child's risk of a serious head injury. Your child should wear a helmet when he or she plays sports, or rides a bike, scooter, or skateboard. Talk to your child's healthcare provider about other ways you can protect your child during sports.
- Have your child wear a seat belt or sit in a child safety seat in the car. This decreases your child's risk for a head injury if he or she is in a car accident. Ask your child's healthcare provider for more information about child safety seats.
- Secure heavy or large items in your home. This includes bookshelves, TVs, dressers, cabinets, and lamps. Make sure these items are held in place or nailed into the wall. Heavy or large items can fall and hit your child in the head.
- Place gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Always make sure that the gate is closed and locked. Gates will help protect your child from falling and getting a head injury.
Follow up with your child's healthcare provider as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your child's visits.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.