How long to monitor after head injury

A skull fracture is a break in the skull bone. Skull fractures can happen in different parts of the skull. Bleeding can happen on and under the scalp and in or around the brain. A child with a head injury might: Have a swollen scalp: This is common because the scalp has many small blood vessels that can leak.

Have a headache : About half of children with a head injury get a headache. Lose consciousness pass out : This isn't common. Vomit once or twice: This happens in some children after a head injury. How Are Head Injuries Diagnosed? Signs that the injury could be serious include: loss of consciousness for more than a few minutes continued vomiting confusion seizures a headache that gets worse What Should I Do When a Child Has a Head Injury?

Call your health care provider right away if your child had a head injury and: is an infant lost consciousness, even for a moment has any of these symptoms: won't stop crying complains of head and neck pain younger children who aren't talking yet may be more fussy vomits more than one time won't awaken easily becomes hard to comfort isn't walking or talking normally If your child is not an infant, has not lost consciousness, and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow: Put an ice pack or instant cold pack on the injured area for 20 minutes every 3—4 hours.

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. Physical rest means a gradual return to normal activity, work and gym class. If symptoms occur like a headache , the child needs to return to the previous level of physical and mental activity. In 24 hours, they can try again to take it to the next level. Athletes involved in sports need to have a stepwise plan for "return to play.

Pain Scale Mild: your child feels pain and tells you about it. But, the pain does not keep your child from any normal activities.

School, play and sleep are not changed. Moderate: the pain keeps your child from doing some normal activities. It may wake him or her up from sleep. Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps your child from doing all normal activities. Caution: protect the neck from any movement. Bellevue Everett Federal Way Seattle. Should your child see a doctor? All Symptoms.

This means no watching TV or playing on mobile electronic devices. Allow your child to gradually return to reading and other activities that require periods of greater concentration or thinking.

Children often become fatigued tired quickly after a head injury, and this can exaggerate any of the symptoms that may occur after the head injury, such as confusion, emotional disturbances and thinking problems.

If you are worried, take them to see a doctor. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. To donate, visit www. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout.

The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Head injury — general advice.

Head injury — general advice Children often bump or bang their heads, and it can be difficult to tell whether an injury is serious or not. Seek help immediately by calling an ambulance if: your child has had a head injury involving high speeds or heights greater than a metre, for example, car crashes, high-speed skateboard accidents or falling from playground equipment your child loses consciousness passes out your child seems unwell and vomits more than once after hitting their head.

Someone must stay with you for the next 24 hours or longer, if directed. If you fall asleep, this person should wake you up every 2 hours, or as directed, to check your symptoms. This is called sleep monitoring. Symptoms to watch for include:. If you develop any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care right away. If none of these symptoms are noted during the first 24 hours, keep watching for symptoms for the next day or so.

Ask your provider if someone should stay with you during this time. If you were prescribed medicines for pain, use them as directed. To help reduce swelling and pain, apply a cold source to the injured area for up to 20 minutes at a time. Do this as often as directed.