head injury
Most head injuries in children are relatively minor and are seldom severe enough to justify the hours that parents spend worrying about them. There are a variety of signs and symptoms to watch for following a head injury during the first 24 to 48 hours. You should observe your child for the following symptoms and report them to the doctor immediately if they occur:
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions or seizure like activity
- Double vision or other visual disturbances
- Unequal pupils
- Weakness in one arm or one leg
- Limp or staggering which persists more than a few minutes
- Abnormal leakage of fluid from the nose or ears
- Slurred speech or the inability to speak
- Mental status change - acting as if “out of it”
- Falls involving an infant, even if the baby is acting normally
Some symptoms are common after a head injury and are worrisome only if they become excessive:
- Drowsiness: Most children will become drowsy after a head injury and sleep. It does no harm for your child to fall asleep. In fact, this is very common. It is important, however, to make sure that your child can be fully aroused. It is a good idea to awaken your child every three to four hours during the night after a bad blow to the head. If your child cannot be awakened, you should take your child to the Arkansas Children's Hospital ER immediately.
- Vomiting: Vomiting is common following even minor head trauma. If it persists more than twice following head trauma, you should report this to the doctor. A CT scan of the head may be necessary.
- Headache: This is a common symptom after head injury. If it persists or becomes increasingly severe despite acetaminophen (Tylenol - see Dosing Guide), you should notify the doctor.
If your child exhibits none of the above, then it is very unlikely that your child has sustained a significant head injury. A hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin at the site of head trauma) or “goose egg,” is of no consequence unless it is huge (size of a baseball). This will resolve on its own.
Please see our section on
concussion of this handbook for more information.
