Our children will undoubtedly get bumped, scraped, and bruised within their lifetimes. However, a bump to the head should be taken seriously. Head injuries can be quite serious. If your child has experienced trauma to the head, it’s critical that you closely monitor them to determine if medical treatment is necessary.
While we recommend getting your child checked by a doctor after any head injury (even if they are not experiencing any symptoms) there are specific signs and symptoms to watch for to determine if it’s time to head to the clinic or time to head directly to your nearby emergency room(ER).
Head Injuries - When to See a Doctor
Less serious signs/symptoms – ok to head to the clinic
- Behavior - Irritable, emotional, or overall personality changes
- Loss of consciousness - at the time of the incident or after
- Persistent or headaches
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Difficulty remembering things
More serious signs/symptoms – head to ER
- Severe headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unequal pupil size
- Seizures
- Bleeding from the ear or nose
- Persistent Loss of balance
- Coordination issues
Seriousness of Head Injuries
Trauma to the head should be taken very seriously. When in doubt, seek immediate medical attention. Your doctor needs to be aware of the head injury to best treat potential symptoms. If you don’t seek treatment, be sure your doctor is aware of the trauma.
Depending on the type and frequency of head injuries, there can be severe, long-lasting symptoms. These include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Memory problems
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative brain disease that can occur after repeated head injuries, such as those experienced by athletes in contact sports. Symptoms may include memory loss, confusion, depression, and changes in behavior.
- Seizures
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after a traumatic event, including a head injury. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and avoidance behavior.
- Head injuries can increase the risk of depression and anxiety, which may occur immediately after the injury or develop over time.
Seek Medical Treatment
If you are questioning seeking medical attention post head trauma, just do it. Call 911 for serious or life-threatening injuries or schedule a visit to a nearby urgent care clinic or ER for immediate evaluation.