Head Trauma

We are not always present when our children fall and hit their heads. .Minor accidents can cause eye and brain damage. These may show up as a range of behaviour changes, they can be life threatening problems from head trauma. If your child is not acting like normal is unusually sleepy, inattentive and agitated, take them to see a doctor and ask the doctor if the behaviour changes could be due to a head injury or trauma…..

         Head trauma symptoms;

n      Vomiting

n      Confusion

n      Drowsiness

n      Inability to walk

n      Severe headache

            Concussion happens when the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord has been throttled. There may also be progressive pooling of blood from torn vessels on the surface of the brain, this is a more serious problem and requires surgery……

             Minor head injuries can be cared for at home….you should seek medical attention and your doctor will let you know whether to visit him or to go to the emergency room..

   Signs the doctor will look for……….

n      Bleeding in the eye

n      Slight weakness in the arms and legs

n      Abnormal pupil responses

                       Testing should include a CT scan and a full eye and neurological exam……

                Severe head injuries should be taken straight to the emergency department via ambulance…..

              It is not necessary to keep a child or adult who has had a head injury awake. It is actually helpful to the emergency staff to be able to wake the child up. The child will be calm and rested. This will give the doctors a chance to give a better assessment

             Preventions will include the wearing of helmets when bike riding, skating, riding a scooter and on a motor bike. In the car make sure your child is always in a suitable car seat. Always think of fall proofing your home, stairs, bathtubs, throw rugs and furniture can be a danger

                I hope this helps……..