Head Injury in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
AMBULATORY CARE:
A head injury
can include your child's scalp, face, skull, or brain and range from mild to severe. Effects can appear immediately after the injury or develop later. The effects may last a short time or be permanent. Healthcare providers may want to check your child's recovery over time. Treatment may change as he or she recovers or develops new health problems from the head injury.
Common signs and symptoms:
- An open wound, swelling, or bruising
- Mild to moderate headache
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Nausea or vomiting
- Ringing in the ears or neck pain
- Confusion, especially right after the injury
- Change in mood, such as feeling restless or irritable
- Trouble thinking, remembering, or concentrating
- Short-term loss of newly learned skills, such as toilet training
- Drowsiness or decreased amount of energy
- Change in how your child sleeps, such as sleeping more than usual or waking during the night
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) 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 or her head.
- Your child is harder to wake than usual.
Call your child's pediatrician if:
- Your child will not stop crying or will not eat.
- Your child's symptoms last longer than 6 weeks after the injury.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Medicines:
- Acetaminophen decreases pain and fever. It is available without a doctor's order. Ask how much to give your child and how often to give it. Follow directions. Read the labels of all other medicines your child uses to see if they also contain acetaminophen, or ask your child's doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if not taken correctly.
- Do not give aspirin to children younger than 18 years. Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he or she has the flu or a fever and takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin or salicylates.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell the provider 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.
Treatment options
The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
Care for your child:
- Have your child rest or do quiet activities for 24 hours or as directed. Limit TV, video games, computer time, and schoolwork. Do not let your child play sports or do activities that may cause a blow to the head. Your child should not return to sports until a healthcare 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 wound. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain.
- Watch your child for problems during the first 24 hours , or as directed. Call for help if needed. When your child is awake, ask questions every few hours to make sure he or she is thinking clearly. An example is to ask your child's name or favorite food.
- Tell your child's teachers, coaches, or daycare providers about the injury and symptoms to watch for. Ask for extra time to finish schoolwork or exams, if needed.
Prevent another head injury:
- Have your child wear a helmet that fits properly. Helmets help decrease your child's risk for 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 seatbelt 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.
- Make your home safe for your child. Home safety measures can help prevent head injuries. Put self-latching gates at the bottoms and tops 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. Screw the gate to the wall at the tops of stairs. Put soft bumpers on furniture edges and corners. Secure heavy furniture, such as a dresser or bookcase, so your child cannot pull it over.
Follow up with your child's pediatrician 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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