Topic Overview Head injury Almost all children will bump their heads, especially when they are babies or toddlers and are just learning to roll over, crawl, or walk. Head injury occurs more often in young children than adults. When compared with adults: Young children can't control the movement of their heads as well as adults.
Their heads are larger in relation to their bodies. Their neck muscles are not as well developed. Young children's legs are somewhat shorter in proportion to the rest of their bodies.
This makes a child's center of gravity closer to the head than an adult's center of gravity. Young children are more likely to have an accident or fall as they learn new skills such as walking, running, and jumping.
Check Your Symptoms Has your child had a head injury? How old are you? Less than 4 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Is the wound bleeding? If you think the wound may need stitches, it's best to get them within 8 hours of the injury. Would you describe the bleeding as severe, moderate, or mild?
Does your child have symptoms of shock? Do you think there could be a spinal cord injury? Are there any signs that the head injury is serious? Did a seizure occur after the head injury? Did the seizure occur within the past 2 days 48 hours? Is there a wound that goes through the skull, such as a knife or gunshot wound? Are there any symptoms of a skull fracture? Is there swelling anywhere on the head?
Swelling in certain areas of the head can be a sign of a skull fracture. Is the only swelling a bump or "goose egg" on the forehead? Swelling in any other area of the head, such as the temple area or the side or back of the head, could be more serious. Did your child pass out lose consciousness after the injury? When did your child pass out? Within the past 24 hours. More than 24 hours 1 full day after the injury. Was there a lot of force involved in the head injury?
Some examples are a fall onto the head from a height taller than the child, or a very hard blow to the head, such as in a car crash or a forceful sports injury. When did the head injury occur? Less than 24 hours ago. From 1 full day 24 hours to 1 week ago. More than 1 week ago. Has your child vomited more than once since the injury?
Do you think that the head injury may have been caused by abuse? A head injury caused by abuse is serious at any age, but this is especially true for babies. Are there any other symptoms that may be related to the head injury? Some symptoms may appear days or even more than a week after a head injury.
Are the symptoms:. Getting worse? Staying about the same not better or worse? Getting better? Has your child had symptoms for more than 2 weeks after the injury? These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health.
If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
If you use ice, always wrap it in a washcloth or sock. Ice placed right on bare skin can injure it. Watch your child carefully for the next 24 hours. If the injury happens close to bedtime or naptime and your child falls asleep soon afterward, check in a few times while they sleep.
Don't move the child in case there is a neck or spine injury. Call for help. If you have a phone with you, call If the child is vomiting or having a seizure , turn them onto their side while trying to keep the head and neck straight. This will help prevent choking and protect the neck and spine. Can Head Injuries Be Prevented? Kids should: Always wear a bike helmet that fits well and is approved by the U.
Consumer Product Safety Commission for biking. Use the proper sports equipment for inline skating, skateboarding , snowboarding , skiing , and contact sports. Use a child safety seat or seatbelt every time they're in the car. Take it easy after a head injury, especially if they had a concussion. If your child is alert and responds to you, the head injury is likely mild.
To soothe them, you can apply a cold compress for 20 minutes to help the swelling go down. You can give children acetaminophen for pain, but check with your child's doctor before giving any other medication. You don't want to mask pain or symptoms that suggest a serious head injury. You can let your child go to sleep if it's naptime or bedtime, but check on them every two to three hours to make sure everything is OK.
There will be falls and near misses, and occasionally there may also be some bumps on the head. Fortunately, most baby head bumps are mild. If your kid does fall and bump their head, but is alert and responds to you, watch them carefully for the next 36 to 48 hours to see if any symptoms develop that could indicate a head injury.
Changes to watch for include inconsolable crying or fussiness, vomiting more than once, balancing difficulties when sitting or walking, and being unresponsive. If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, or has any significant swelling over the site of the injury, you should take them to the doctor right away. Head injuries can cause changes in memory, judgment, balance, reaction time, speech and sleep. They can also cause headaches and more sensitivity to light and sound.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking your child to the doctor right away if they have any of the following:. These symptoms are signs of a more serious head injury, and they may happen hours later and, rarely, even days later. Certain accidents are also more likely to cause a serious head injury including a car accident, falling down a flights of stairs, falling off a bicycle without a helmet, falling from three or more feet off the ground, and higher level competitive contact sports.
According to AAP, CT scans are useful for injuries such as bleeding in the brain or skull fractures, but not helpful for the diagnosis of a concussion. For the majority of childhood head injuries, CT scans of children are not necessary.
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