Contusion in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
AMBULATORY CARE:
A contusion
is a bruise that appears on your child's skin after an injury. A bruise happens when small blood vessels tear but skin does not. Blood leaks into nearby tissue, such as soft tissue or muscle.
Other signs and symptoms your child may have with a contusion:
- Pain that increases when your child touches the bruise, walks, or uses the area around the bruise
- Swelling or a lump at the site of the bruise, or near it
- Red, blue, or black skin that may change to green or yellow after a few days
- Stiffness or problems moving the bruised area of his or her body
Seek care immediately if:
- Your child cannot feel or move his or her injured arm or leg.
- Your child begins to complain of pressure or a tight feeling in his or her injured muscle.
- Your child suddenly has more pain when he or she moves the injured area.
- Your child has severe pain in the area of the bruise.
- Your child's hand or foot below the bruise gets cold or turns pale.
Call your child's doctor if:
- The injured area is red and warm to the touch.
- Your child's symptoms do not improve after 4 to 5 days of treatment.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Treatment
may not be needed. Treatment for a more severe injury may include any of the following:
- NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling, pain, and fever. This medicine is available with or without a doctor's order. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If your child takes blood thinner medicine, always ask if NSAIDs are safe for him or her. Always read the medicine label and follow directions. Do not give these medicines to children younger than 6 months without direction from a healthcare provider.
- Prescription pain medicine may be given. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you give your child medicine.
- Aspiration is a procedure to drain pooled blood in your child's muscle. This helps prevent increased pressure in the muscle.
- Surgery may be done to repair a tear in your child's muscle or relieve pressure in the muscle caused by swelling.
Help your child's contusion heal:
- Have your child rest the injured area or use it less than usual. If your child bruised a leg or foot, crutches may be needed. This will help your child keep weight off the injured body part.
- Apply ice to decrease swelling and pain. Ice may also help prevent tissue damage. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel and place it on your child's bruise for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed.
- Use compression to support the area and decrease swelling. Wrap an elastic bandage around the area over the bruised muscle. Make sure the bandage is not too tight. You should be able to fit 1 finger between the bandage and your child's skin.
- Elevate (raise) the area above the level of your child's heart to help decrease pain and swelling. Use pillows, blankets, or rolled towels to elevate the area as often as you can.
- Do not let your child stretch injured muscles right after the injury. Ask your child's healthcare provider when and how your child may safely stretch after the injury. Gentle stretches can help increase your child's flexibility.
- Do not massage the area or put heating pads on the bruise right after the injury. Heat and massage may slow healing. Your child's healthcare provider may tell you to apply heat after several days. At that time, heat will start to help the injury heal.
Prevent a contusion:
- Do not leave your baby alone on the bed or couch. Watch him or her closely as he or she starts to crawl, learns to walk, and plays.
- Make sure your child wears proper protective gear. These include padding and protective gear such as shin guards. He or she should wear these when he or she plays sports. Teach your child about safe equipment and places to play, and teach him or her to follow safety rules.
- Remove or cover sharp objects in your home. As a very young child learns to walk, he or she is more likely to get injured on corners of furniture. Remove these items, or place soft pads over sharp edges and hard items in your home.
Follow up with your child's doctor as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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